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EWER ALERT – DESPITE GOVERNMENT BAN, ILLEGAL MARTIAL ARTS GROUPS CONTINUE
TO OPERATE AND PERPETRATE VIOLENCE
In recent months, Belun’s Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) System has recorded numerous violent incidents involving
members of now-illegal Martial Arts Groups (MAGs). These incidents continue to occur, despite a 2013 government resolution that
banned three such groups (IKS, KORKA and PSHT) and a ceremony held earlier this year at which members of the PNTL and F-FDTL
relinquished membership in these groups.
Most recently, on 3 May at 4pm in the Bebonuk area of Comoro Suku in Dili, the EWER system recorded an attempted murder after
a Martial Arts competition organized by two illegal groups (IKS and PSHT). On 1 May, the two groups had agreed to hold a sparring
competition without bladed weapons that would decide which group’s techniques were superior. The illegal competition started on
2 May and attracted an audience of interested community members. There was no intervention by the community or PNTL to stop
the competition until the attempted murder took place at the end of the second day of sparring. On 3 May, one MAG member was
shot in the chest with a bow and arrow as he was leaving the venue of the competition. The violent attack left the victim in a coma
fighting for his life. On 4 May, members from the two MAGs attempted to continue the competition, but it was interrupted by the
PNTL’s Public Order Battalion (BOP), causing the participants to flee the area.
Since December 2014, the EWER system has recorded a number of similar incidents that have been linked to members of illegal
MAGs:
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Between December 2014 and January 2015, 8 incidents of illegal MAG-related violence were recorded (6 in December and
2 in January) in Baukau, Dili and Likisá. Five of these incidents resulted in deaths (3 in Baukau and 2 in Dili).
Between February and March, 7 incidents of illegal MAG-related violence were recorded (2 in February and 5 in March), 5
of which occurred in Dili between the same two groups (IKS and PSHT) in Comoro Suku. This dispute was mediated and
resolved in March. One incident also occurred in Likisa, in which members of an illegal MAG attacked a Police officer who
intervened on a training session that was taking place in the middle of the night.
In April, 47 total incidents were recorded by the EWER system in Dili. 17 of these incidents involved stone-throwing and
fighting between groups of youth, but Belun has yet to receive evidence that these incidents were perpetrated by members
of illegal MAGs.
The above incidents show that MAGs continue to operate illegally in many parts of the country. Belun has also received numerous
reports that members of illegal MAGs are training together in secret in the middle of the night. While community members are often
aware that this training is ongoing, in many places they do not share information with the Police for them to take action. Likewise,
although local leaders have a responsibility to inform police about illegal activities ongoing in their areas, many are not notifying the
police to the detriment of their communities.
Recommendations
1. PNTL intelligence should identify training and fighting venues used by illegal MAGs, and PNTL patrols should respond rapidly
to illegal activities that involve these groups.
2. Community and local leaders should cooperate with Community Police to share information about illegal MAG activities
and organize mediations between rival groups so that disputes can be resolved in a peaceful manner.
3. The Commission for the Regulation of Martial Arts should work with sub-district Conflict Prevention and Response
Networks, which include local authorities and youth representatives, and Community Police to regularly share information
about Martial Arts-related laws and regulations with youth in areas that have high rates of MAG violence.
4. Relevant government institutions (including the Ministry of Education, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, SEFOPE,
among others) should work with civil society, local leaders, international organizations and donors to create a national
strategy to combat the appeal of illegal MAGs among vulnerable youth, by creating activities and multi-functional sporting
facilities to divert criminal behavior to other forms of sport and exercise.
For more information, please contact Marilia Oliveira da Costa (bylah.belun@gmail.com).
The Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) System is implemented by NGO Belun with generous support from the American People through the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID)‐funded Civil Society Monitoring of Security Sector Development (CSM-SSD) Program and from the Peace Fund, a project of the
GIZ, on behalf of German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Timorese State Secretariat for Youth and Sports. The contents and opinions
expressed herein are the responsibility of NGO Belun and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of USAID, the Government of the United States of America,
GIZ or the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports. For more information on the EWER program or to view additional publications please visit: http://www.belun.tl.