organisations as "mobs for hire". In 2006 in particular, there were credible reports of gang members being paid for provocations or attacks. Illegal gambling is done more by organised crime, but gangs also offer themselves as security services here, as well as at nightclubs and brothels. The increase in human and drug trafficking provides further opportunities for financing. This is triggered by the presence of international organisations and the military. Dili is divided into zones that the individual groups consider their turf for their "economic activities". Four gangs from the western part of the country control the centre of the capital. Distinction between the different groupings Even though the groups can best be described with the collective term gangs, they are extremely different in their background. And even the term youth gang, which is widely used, must be understood in the Timorese sense. The members can be over 30 years old, the leaders over 35. It is difficult and also controversial to classify the groupings into different categories. Not only are there fluid transitions in the forms of appearance, many are members of several groups. Again and again, groups change their appearance, practically reinvent themselves. Thus, former independence fighters suddenly become protest movements, political parties or criminal organisations. There is still a lack of in-depth research. Martial Arts Groups (MAG) Central to these groups are martial arts, such as karate, pencak silat, wushu, aikido, judo, or taekwondo. While some groups limit themselves to practising their sport ("white-suited MAGs"), some groups also engage in other activities, such as street fighting or extortion. The largest MAGs are the Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate (PSHT, Brotherhood of the Sacred Heart of the Lotus Flower) Martial Arts Club, Kera Sakti (KS) and the Kung Fu Masters. In addition, there are a large number of small groups, some of which do not even have a name or fixed membership structures. Fights between the individual groups for territory and influence are frequent. Many groups emerged during the years of Indonesian occupation of East Timor, during which the current members learned martial arts from Indonesian teachers, often army personnel. However, this does not always mean that MAGs emerged from the pro-Indonesian militias of the time. Often the connections were of a non-political and personal nature and have survived to this day, which can be seen clearly in the case of the PSHT in particular. Especially among MAGs, kinship