By Jon Lamb
MANILA — For thousands of East Timorese living outside their homeland, their thoughts often turn to the friends and relatives they have left behind, particularly as November 12 and December 7 (the commemorative dates for the Dili massacre and the Indonesian invasion respectively) approach. Green Left Weekly's Jon Lamb spoke to Moris, a young East Timorese man now living in the Philippines, about his experience under Indonesian occupation and his hopes for the future.
When did you leave East Timor, and what was the situation there like?
I left just six months after the massacre in Dili. The situation was quite difficult, especially for the youth and those involved in militant activity. The reason I left was not in search of exile — not in the sense to resettle.
On the day of the massacre, I was working in a bank. I was present at the mass in Moatel Church, from where the funeral procession began, but I had to return to work. After the murder at Moatel Church of Sebastio Gomez [on October 28], the youth and the people involved in activism were determined to demonstrate.
I knew something big had happened when I heard the firing and the sirens — then quiet. The following days and at night, there were no people walking and talking like before. Nobody moved around after the massacre, except for the family members looking for their sons and daughters.
What happened to you and your family after the Indonesian invasion?
When the invasion occurred in 1975, I was 7 years old. We were united with the resistance, particularly Fretilin. My family went to Matebian [mountainous region] from 1976 to 1979 to escape from the Indonesian military. We returned in 1979 to the city, after three weeks of intensive bombing in Matebian. Our experience in Matebian was quite difficult because we did not have enough food and water — just enough to survive.
We returned to Matebian in 1983. My father was arrested and interrogated for three months. His brother was killed because my father had an argument with the military. Another 32 people were arrested, and only 16 released. I don't know of the whereabouts of the others to this day.
The following year I went to Dili, to study in a Catholic school, where I came to realise that there was something very wrong with this life. Something had to be done. I joined with others in the youth struggle.
In 1988 I was suspected with others of being a member of the Santo Antonio youth movement. It was a youth organisation, which while not identifying as a political movement, that is what it essentially was. I was arrested one day returning home from school, questioned for three hours and then released.
How did you manage to leave East Timor?
We had a study group, to learn English and other subjects. Our principal told us that if ever we had the chance to leave, we should. Through youth exchange programs we tried. When I found there was a chance to go to the Philippines, I took it.
I left in May 1992. It was quite hard to leave. I was able to leave largely with the assistance of the religious community — but also through contacts in my company and even Timorese police. I was in Jakarta for three weeks while the paperwork was processed.
It was not clear on joining the congregation in the Philippines whether I would become a priest. But what was clear to me was that it was a way out. Especially when my friends that I studied and relaxed with were being arrested, I could not ignore the opportunity to leave.
Have you managed to keep in touch with events in East Timor? Were you able to participate in the APCET (Asia Pacific Conference on East Timor, held in Manila from May 31 to June 4)?
It is difficult to know what is going on in East Timor from here. Sometimes I receive letters from friends in East Timor that have been re-posted from Manila. I don't know who has sent them. I have sent letters to my family, but rarely do I get a reply.
I planned to leave the Philippines earlier this year to return to East Timor. It's something I really want to do even though there is a risk in leaving and then returning.
But I received a letter telling me that maybe it would be better to wait for a while. Later I received a long distance phone call and was told that friends would be arriving soon for a conference on East Timor, and they would like me to speak. I was hesitant, primarily for security reasons.
On the second day of the conference I went there and met with the East Timorese, but it was still very risky. We left for a hotel, where I was able to talk with fellow East Timorese.
I was very happy to meet all those who supported the struggle of the East Timorese people. Perhaps for the first time after APCET, the people of Asia and the world found out what was happening on East Timor. It was also very helpful for those still in East Timor — for the youth, for the mass of the people and for FALINTIL, the glorious resistance fighters. I think they were happy for the conference because now the world knows we are fighting for a just cause.
What is your opinion of the Australian government's role in supporting Indonesia's occupation of East Timor. If you had the opportunity to speak to the Australian people, what would you say?
Why is it that Australia, which is very near to East Timor, does not say anything or make a political stand against the Indonesian government — even though the Australian government knew the invasion was to occur and was in violation of international law, even though they knew exactly the suffering of all the people and of the deaths of Australian journalists inside East Timor.
I don't understand why the Australian government will not take a stand, and speak out in the international community, that the East Timorese have a right to self-determination.
During the time of Bob Hawke, he said things against Indonesia, but didn't take any firm action on the issue of East Timor. It is the same today. For the East Timorese and me personally, the stand of Australia is very important for our self-determination.
If I could talk to the Australian people, I would ask them to help East Timor. While it is small country, its struggle for freedom and justice, which we have tried to defend for so long, contributes to these ideals in a global sense.
The Australian government with its focus on economic ties with Indonesia is merely defending the status quo, as is America, Japan, the UK and other Western countries.
The Australian government does not take East Timor seriously. But I think the people of Australia support East Timor. We can see that through the solidarity groups and the many demonstrations in support of our struggle.
Why is the Australian government training these troops of illegal occupation? Why do they ignore the truth of what is happening on East Timor?