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29th September 2009

Dionisio de Jesus Lopes
Title: Transition from Indonesian Occupation to Independence
Memoir article

I write as one of the new generation of East Timorese.

Whenever I see and hear of unaccountability, non-transparency and unwise

spending of my countrymen’s money by government officials, I experience
an emotional impact. Memories bounce back into my mind of the pain and
deaths wrought by the Indonesian Military and militias on my parents and
other young men and women who supported the liberation of East Timor
during 24 years under Indonesian occupation (from Dec 1975 to Sep 1999).

I remember clearly on one occasion after my classes in Venilale, Baucau as I

was heading back home, soldiers of the Indonesian military chasing and
slaughtering three young Timorese in front of me! The bodies of these three
young men were never to be found thereafter. Day and night, Indonesian
military and militias were everywhere. They would send spies to different
houses of freedom fighters every night to detect any possible organized
secretive meetings. This is the kind of life we experienced throughout
Indonesian occupation.

The United Nations administered a popular consultation for the people of

East Timor to decide in a referendum whether they wanted to become an
independent state. I was 16 years old at the time. In June 1999, after my
three years of Junior High School in the Salesian School in Venilale, I moved
to Dili to live with my relatives and to study at the Colégio São Jose (St.
Joseph High School), Balide. Leaving my home town for the capital Dili, I
thought there would be less slaughtering, killing and burning houses,
however, I was wrong. It was even worse in the capital.

A week before the casting votes, some of my relatives had dropped off their
children in Dare, one of the tallest hills near the city. I was not qualified yet
for voting, so I roamed around the voting booths to witness to its flow.
Immediately after this very historic and momentous opportunity for people to
vote for freedom and independence, my uncle and I raced to the Balide
Church, beside Colégio de Sao Jose. I cannot bear to recall the restlessness
and fear of everyone in the refugee camps.

Indonesian soldiers were herding people into Balide Church, Cathedral

Church, Colégio de São Jose school buildings and most of the infrastructure
was being set on fire. This tiny East Timor was like the place for a free fire
zone. I was wondering why Indonesian leaders allowed their militaries and
militias to fight a major war against a people who don't have any guns.
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Wiranto and Adamiral Blair turned a blind eye to or even enabled the
horrendous human rights violations committed by the TNI in East Timor.

Following the vote, Indonesian security forces and their militia laid waste to
the territory, capping nearly two and half decades of brutal occupation with
the destruction of 75% of the buildings and infrastructure. Timor-Leste's
Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) estimates up to
184,000, a third of the population was killed as a result of the occupation.

After staying for a week at Colégio de São Jose with some other students and
Fr. Eduard C. Rato Dopo, S.J. (the present principal), I carried a small bag
with my clothes and escaped to Dare. In Dare everyday and night I
witnessed to the free firing zone. I thought it was a holocaust happening in
East Timor, the youngest country of Asia, and it tells me more about
rapacious western power, its propaganda and true aims, than even current
colonial adventures.

The long awaited day for freedom had finally arrived. It was heartbreaking to
see the city totally destroyed. It was difficult to find basic needs such as soap
or sandals, soap powder, Colgate or public transportation for couple weeks in
the city. I was overwhelmed with pride. I agreed that despite the loss, it was
great to know that we were finally free. Then, the house of my relatives in
capital was burned down and completely destroyed. In order to pursue my
dream, I approached and requested for a scholarship from Fr. Joseph Ageng
Marwata, S.J. I was accepted and with some other students of Colégio São
Jose who had similar experiences to me, and we moved and stayed together
in a room which was offered by the school.

I hope change can come to country that has experienced so much

bloodshed. Furthermore, I wish to see a close cooperation between officials
of the new East Timor Administration, Indonesia and some other
International agencies who have repeatedly spoken out against human rights
crimes, and the International Court to bring to justice those responsible for
the war crimes and crimes against humanity in East Timor in 1999 and
before.

It is now 2009, and a decade of independence, but nothing of any real

importance seems to be happening, despite politicians and government
officials continuously reporting to benefactors and donors on development in
East Timor over the past ten years. True development in the country is
impossible without honest men at every level who are just, and work for the
common good. Sadly, government officials adopt a culture of impunity to
wash away the fight for the truth. They continuously impede the
development of human rights and obstruct Timorese victims from
overcoming their traumas and moving on with their lives.
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Billions of dollars from benefactors, donors and the Petroleum fund from oil
and gas fields have been wasted and effective mechanisms to achieve
justice have not been implemented. The money has been spent in paying for
the salary of foreign security forces, foreign consultants, overseas
procurement, imported supplies and overseas administrations.

But, the people of East Timor are left to languish. The income of an ordinary
Timorese is less than U$2.00 a day. Poverty has increased; roads are in
disrepair; there is little access to clean water or health services; and so on.
The vastness and complexity of the task has become very apparent now. If
this situation continues, funds will soon be exhausted, and in ten years time
my countrymen will be starving.

Then, where will the future of coming generations of this country be? When
will the perpetrators of crimes against humanity be brought to justice and
held accountable? How can we hope for any justice if the leaders of our
country are continuously sharing one table for heavy meals?