Subject: RT: E.Timor remembers dead with
anti-Jakarta sentiment
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 07:19:33 -0500
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>E.Timor remembers dead with
anti-Jakarta sentiment By Lewa Pardomuan
DILI, East Timor, Nov 12 (Reuters) - East Timorese on Thursday marked the killings of
scores of unarmed protesters on this day in 1991 with tears and renewed anti-Indonesia
sentiment in the former Portuguese colony.
Mourners burst into tears as students staged a play portraying the massacre at the
Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, where Indonesian troops opened fire on unarmed demonstrators
seven years ago.
``In this place, there were many East Timorese youths who gave up their chests to be
shot by the Indonesian soldiers...and to be crucified by the bullets. East Timorese have
recorded this as part of their history,'' a former guerrilla member, Mauhudu, told the
crowd in the local Tetum language.
``We should unite to continue their struggle...for self-determination,'' said Mahudu
who said he spoke on behalf of the Fretilin guerrilla movement.
Locals say about 200 people were killed during what is known as the Santa Cruz
massacre, while the government puts the death toll at 50.
About 1,000 people from various districts in the territory gathered at the cemetery to
remember the dead in a ceremony held for the first time at the spot itself.
They brought flowers, banners showing pictures of jailed Fretilin guerrilla leader
Xanana Gusmao and shouted ``Viva Timor Leste (East Timor).''
Mourners later lay wreaths at a wooden crucifix inside the cemetery.
``I am so sad...I just can't speak,'' one survivor of the massacre said in tears as she
stood nearby.
There was no sign of increased police and military presence in Dili, where tension
usually rises ahead of the anniversary.
In Canberra, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the number of Indonesian
troops in East Timor was too high and should be substantially reduced to pave the way for
a lasting peace.
``We think the troop numbers, whatever they are in East Timor, are still too great and
that it would be helpful to the process of reconciliation in East Timor to reduce the
numbers below their current level,'' he said in an interview to Reuters Television.
In the past, commemoration of the Santa Cruz massacre was restricted to homes and the
East Timor university compound because the heavy military presence would discourage people
from visiting the cemetery.
Students cancelled an anti-Indonesia protest on Thursday, in line, they said, with
instructions from Xanana.
Instead, they held the play in front of the cemetery, which featured the sounds of
cries and machine guns. Many players and spectators were openly sobbing by the end.
East Timorese also held a candlelight vigil at their homes on Wednesday night to
remember the dead. The territory's charismatic Bishop Carlos Belo held a mass at a chapel
in his beach-front residence on Thursday. He declined to speak to journalists.
Belo earlier urged people in the predominantly Catholic region of 800,000 to remain
calm.
Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it the following year in a move not
recognised by the United Nations.
East Timorese are divided over the future of their homeland. Some want independence,
some are in favour of a referendum and others prefer to remain Indonesia's 27th province.
Indonesia still faces armed resistance by the Fretilin, whose members are hiding in the
territory's jungle.
Indonesia estimates their number at 200.
John M. Miller Internet: etan-outreach@igc.apc.org
Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network PO Box 150753, Brooklyn, NY
11215-0014 USA Phone: (718)596-7668 Fax: (718)222-4097 ETAN's new web site:
http://etan.org
Send a blank e-mail message to timor-info@igc.apc.org
to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet
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