Spirited testament to the East Timorese struggle

Wall of Testimony
Written by Jose Casimiro and Maria Alice Casimiro Branco
Performed by the Lafaek East Timor Association
Reviewed by Sally Mitchell and Tim E. Stewart Wall of Testimony — the latest play by the Lafaek East Timor Association — made its explosive debut to a capacity audience of students, artists, parliamentarians, church parishioners and political activists at the Browns Mart Community Arts Theatre in Darwin on November 2. The performance, a series of emotionally charged vignettes based around events related to the November 12, 1991 Dili massacre, is a spirited testament to the 20-year-old struggle of the Maubere people for freedom and self-determination in East Timor. The play gives the Maubere struggle a very human dimension, taking the audience into the realm of everyday violence in East Timor; harassment, murder, and intimidation. Various episodes are set in the home, on the street, in the church and in the mountains. The real impact, however, comes not from the re-enactment of military brutalities, but in the treatment of grief and mourning. Each death in the play becomes a commemorative act. Moments of sorrow give birth to revolutionary anger and determination to struggle against oppression. The five performers — Carlos Soares, Dulcie Munn, Martin Soares, Benilde Lopes Da Cruz and Jose Casimiro — bring Wall of Testimony alive with concentrated bursts of emotion; through the harrowing hymn of Kolele Mai, to the exhilarating percussion and singing of Oh Maubere at the end. The brutal reality, which is the historical backdrop to the play, serves to underscore the political message: freedom and self-determination for East Timor. Jose Casimiro, who co-wrote the play with sister Maria Alice Casimiro Branco, told Green Left: "The actors are on a mission where they can pass the message on of the suffering of the people. It's very important for Timorese to take this play around Australia because it will be seen by lots of people ... It's not only about political issues but also about cultural identity. We must show people who we really are." In writing Wall of Testament, they said the aim was to reflect on all facets of the East Timorese struggle. From the role of the church to the role of women in the armed resistance in the mountains. "We wanted to show the value that Timorese women have in the struggle", said Branco. "We know many instances where women are mothers in the mountains and we thought, 'Yes, we'll have a mother there' — a strong woman who fights, and we'll also have her as a sensitive human being who expresses herself very deeply when her son is killed ... Then there's the other women in the town like Mathalena, who tries to survive, but at the end she's raped. So there are two roles. One is the victim and the other is the hero, the survivor who is carrying on the struggle." Branco continued, "I hope that this play will bring people close to our struggle. We believe that theatre is one of the best tools [with which to do this]. As people see our culture some people forget the political side of the play because our culture is so strong, but the message is still there. It is different to going a demonstration. The message is delivered in a different way." Judging by its impact on Darwin audiences, Wall of Testimony will further unite many people in a better understanding of, and support for, the struggle for self-determination in East-Timor. The tour dates of Wall of Testimony are: Brisbane: Nov 7, Resistance Centre; Nov 8, St Laurence College, South Brisbane; ph 337 79777
Canberra: Nov 11, Venue to be announced; ph 257 4600
Wollongong: Nov 14, Wesley Auditorium; ph 287 1533;
Sydney: Nov 16, Pitt Street Uniting Church; 17th East Side Uniting Church in Paddington; Nov 18, Campbelltown Uniting Church; ph 287 0900
Melbourne: Nov 23, Uniting Church Fitzroy; Nov 24,25, Uniting Church Kew; ph 965 42488
Hobart: Nov 28, Scotts Uniting Church
Launceston: Nov 29, Pilgrim Church
Burnie: Nov 30, Civic Centre; ph 243 697
Alice Springs: Dec 5, Uniting Church Hall; ph 531 955
Adelaide: Dec 2,3, ph 212 4066
Fremantle: Dec 7,8,9, Iona Presentation College Perth: Dec 10, Christian Centre for Social Action; ph 459 8269.