Resistance's EMMA MURPHY spoke to ALEX TILMAN, a member of the Timorese National Youth Resistance (RNJT) in Melbourne about the struggle for self-determination in East Timor.
Question: What is the RNJT?
RNJT is a Melbourne-based coalition of East Timorese activists. We seek to unite all the East Timorese youth and involve them in solidarity with the people in East Timor.
We help people in East Timor directly through fundraising, but we also hold demonstrations and distribute information about the latest developments in East Timor, to raise awareness amongst the Australian people.
Question: What role have young people played in the struggle?
East Timorese youth have played a very important role. It is young people who make up the main body of the clandestine movement, and much of the resistance has survived only because young people continue to be inspired and are prepared to lead.
The Dili massacre is an example of the price young people have had to pay for their willingness to continue struggling for freedom.
Question: What impact will the democracy movement in Indonesia have on your struggle?
Democracy in Indonesia will largely solve the East Timor problem. Most of the parties in Indonesia support a referendum for East Timor and, given the chance, would vote for a referendum. It is only in a truly democratic society that the voice of East Timor will be heard.
We look to Indonesia with hope that there will be a democratic revolution, as that is the only way we can be guaranteed a free future.
Question: What kind of demonstrations are happening in East Timor at the moment?
On November 12, to commemorate the Dili massacre, thousands of young people lay down in the streets, in memory of all those who died in the massacre.
December 7 will be a very sensitive day in East Timor as it is the anniversary of the Indonesian invasion in 1975. That was the day which preceded the deaths of more than 200,000 East Timorese people, so it is a very emotional, powerful day.
Depending on how tolerant the Indonesian military is on the day, there will no doubt be large demonstrations and commemorative ceremonies. Hopefully the armed forces will relax a bit on December 7 and allow the nation to mourn all those it has lost.