In the 2000s, martial arts was a nationwide cult in East Timor. Almost every young person belonged, or at least had loyalties, to a group. Some groups tapped into the clandestine rites and rituals of traditional Timorese magic, some had Catholic leanings and some overt political affiliations. The black pajama-clad Sacred Heart, perhaps the largest of all, took its inspiration from Java, centre of the country’s former overlord, Indonesia.
Some saw martial arts as a cover for street thuggery, blaming groups for compounding the violence that rocked the fledgling nation.
But others claimed it could an instill a sense of discipline and self-respect among a burgeoning yet marginalized youth. In a climate of disillusionment, youth loyalties had all too easily been manipulated by shadowy forces to create chaos for political gain.
