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Nanu aldeia, Fatumean sub-district, Covalima district
Fatumean is one of seven sub-districts in the district of Covalima, which spreads over the south-western corner of Timor-Leste. Situated along the border with Indonesia, it is possible to look from Fatumean over into the Indonesian district of Belu in west Timor. Fatumean is one of the least densely populated parts of Timor-Leste, and in the main people live in relatively concentrated hamlets.
The aldeia chosen for the study site—Nanu—is perched on the steep slopes of Mount Nanu (925 metres above sea level) in the suco of Dakolo. From Nanu it is at least a three-hour round trip on foot to Fatumean’s sub-district centre where the nearest high school and medical facilities are located. Travel from Fatumean to the district capital, Suai, around 40km away, is made difficult by the extremely poor condition of the road. Walking remains the main mode of transport for most people traveling to Suai, a full-day trek.
Fatumean sits at 500 metres or more above sea level, with several peaks rising to around 1000 metres. Ground water supplies in Fatumean are scarce, one of the reasons for the community’s relocation from the summit of Mount Nanu to a lower altitude. Irrigated cropping is virtually non-existent in the area.
The main language spoken in Fatumean is Tetun Terik, linking it linguistically and culturally with the Tetun Terik speakers of Belu district across the border in Indonesia. Cross-border ties remain strong, and the desire to maintain family networks and engage in trade manifests in frequent illegal crossings. The permanent presence of a Border Police Unit (BPU) based in Fatumean, and Indonesian military posts in Belu, has not altogether halted these movements.
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2006 |
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