Dili, 04 March 2026 (Média Democracia) – The President of Bobonaro Municipality, represented by the Secretary of Administration and Finance, Domingos da Costa, questioned authorities who bring women from Indonesia (Atambua) to Timor for events in Bobonaro, suspecting they may be crossing the border illegally and potentially bringing diseases into the municipality.
“As authorities, we know the risks. When there’s a party in Batugade or Sanirin, people like to say women are coming from Atambua, but really, it’s diseases from Atambua coming in. It’s not the women from (Atambua), they’re just lost in the party, so where do they go? They’re spreading the disease. That’s why I’ve always said I don’t like people bringing others in freely.” Said the Secretary of Bobonaro Municipality through his speech during the opening of HIV-AIDS sensitization in Palaca Hamlet, Sanirin Village, Monday (02/03/2025)
The authority representative stated that it’s their duty to look out for the community. When events happen in Batugade and Sanirin, they need to ensure new faces aren’t coming in. Young people should be cautious of those entering illegally and should ban them from participating in activities in Timor.
In the same location, the President of the National Institute to Combat HIV-AIDS, Daniel Marçal, stated that given the situation, it’s very difficult for authorities to control citizens entering without going through immigration.
“These people come somehow, not through immigration, through paths we can’t control. Someone might come with their partner, we might go there and take our partner, they might throw a party and invite us, and we might throw a party and invite them. Think about it, if you go with your wife or husband, it means you’re going back and forth okay.” Said INCSIDA President Daniel
The President added, when traveling with people’s partners female or male who do not have a love relationship because of basic needs (free sex) is how to be responsible for these acts.
“INCSIDA is here for the first time this year because we’ve identified our municipality as high-risk, after Dili, Bobonaro, then Suai, Oe-cusse, Ermera, and lastly Baucau. When HIV cases rise, it means free sex is rampant, as HIV is transmitted through sexual relations.” Added INCSIDA President Daniel Marçal
He’s also asking religious leaders to support moral education for society, because HIV-AIDS is caused by moral issues, and when morals aren’t good, problems can arise quickly.
The INCSIDA President also thanked Bobonaro Municipality authorities for supporting the team doing community socialization in Balibo Administrative Post for five days. The activity will continue with coordination between INCSIDA and authorities, and they’ll keep socializing in villages near the Indonesian border.
Meanwhile, Sanirin Village Chief, Francisco Reis Tavares, said there’s no information about citizens from neighboring countries entering illegally to participate in activities or parties in Sanirin Village, because authorities are controlling and preventing the virus from spreading to their communities.
“As authorities, we haven’t facilitated our friends from Indonesia coming here for parties, and it hasn’t happened once. This info is for us to combat, so it doesn’t happen in the future. That’s the authority’s competence.” Said Sanirin Village Chief Francisco Reis Tavares
That’s why Bobonaro Municipality authorities hope that with this socialization, the community will have knowledge to prevent and combat HIV-AIDS. They’re also asking INCSIDA to continue socializing in other villages, including in Maliana Vila, especially border villages.
Repoting : Estefania
Photo : Estefania