EWER Alert: Details of Slingshot Arrow Attacks Recorded in Dili in 2016

This year, Belun’s Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) system has recorded 19 Rama Ambon (slingshot arrow) attacks in Dili. These incidents have resulted in 2 deaths and 15 serious injuries. The majority of attacks occurred between 7pm and 3am, and were perpetrated by unknown actors on motorcycles on darkened roads, Comoro Suku (village) and Bairo Pite Suku recorded the most attacks, with eight and six respectively. Two attacks were linked to suspected members of banned Martial Arts Groups (MAGs), but Belun suspects that many other attacks were also related to MAG rivalries, as the victims were mostly young men with direct or indirect connections to these groups. For more details about these incidents please click here.