Martial Arts Professional Magazine

DILI, EAST TIMOR—Thousands of cheering East Timorese greeted Jackie Chan during a recent UN goodwill visit at a local stadium, where the film star asked the country’s youth to avoid drugs and violence.Martial arts are extremely popular in East Timor, which has one of the youngest populations in Asia, but an unemployment rate of approximately 50 percent. The country became independent of Indonesian military occupation in 2002, but still relies on foreign troops and police for internal security.

Chan shared his father’s wisdom with his audience, saying, “I will give you the words that my father gave me 40 years ago, which were ‘Son, (there are) three things to remember. Never get close to drugs, never get involved in a gang and never gamble’.”Chan was joined on stage by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who said he hoped Chan’s visit could curb a culture of violence in East Timor. “My big hope is that his visit will change our mentality and (teach us to) live a life with martial arts principles,” Gusmao said.