From crosasia@singnet.com.sg Thu Mar 9 16:32:15 2000
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 14:03:33 +0800
From: Peter S H Chen <crosasia@singnet.com.sg>
Cc: Lawrence Heng <lawrence.heng@gefanucasia.ge.com>
Subject: Cry of East Timor
Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ
(This is an unsolicited post to promote an "East Timor Awareness Talk". Please excuse me for taking
the liberty of sending it to you. In Christ, Peter)
The following brief accounts of the invasion and assault of East Timor are adapted from the book
about Bishop Belo and the struggle for East Timor entitled: "From the Place of the Dead" by Arnold S
Kohen.
On April 25, 1974, the Portugese dictatorship was overthrown in a bloodless military coup.
Political parties were soon formed in East Timor.
In August 1975, civil fighting broke out in East Timor, instigated by Indonesian intelligence
operatives. In December, Indonesian forces launch a full-scale invasion of East Timor, accompanied
by large-scale atrocities. The United Nations condemed the Indonesian invasion.
In July 1976, President Suharto proclaimed East Timor a part of Indonesia. The United Nations
refused to recognise Indonesian annexation.. Late in the year, Catholic sources asserted in a report
that as many as 100,000 of a populaiton of less than 700,000 had perished as a result of the
Indonesian assault.
During the period, 1977-78, large-scale aerial bombardment created widespread suffering in East
Timor's countryside. In 1979, massive war-related famine affected at least 300,000 people. Church
sources put the death toll from the combined effects of the Indonesian assault at 200,000 or more.
... "A territory the size of New Jersey - in roughly the land area of the Netherlands - East
Timor had become a nation of orphans and widows. Almost everyone had lost a close relative or
friend. Whole villages had been wiped out. For the Timorese people, the scale of the tragedy was
almost beyond comprehension."
Despite being subjected to the rule of violence and terror, the East Timorese turned out almost in
full force and courageously voted overwhelmingly for their freedom on 30 August last year. Then
followed a rampage of destruction by the Indonesian militia and soldiers that saw massacres of
thousands of people, including the murder of several priests and nuns, widespread burning of
properties - homes, schools, shops, churches, whole villages etc. were burned to the ground. Two
weeks into the crisis, approximately half of East Timor's population of 800,000 was estimated to be
displaced. The number killed was estimated at 10,000 by one count.
The East Timorese is crying out for help.
"For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight." (Psalm 72: 12-14)
What can we do "to help mediate the mercy and justice of God" in East Timor?
P.S. Please come and listen to:
AN EAST TIMOR AWARENESS TALK
Slide Presentation and Photographs
By Two East Timorese
Victor Sore, Engineer, and Tony Martins, Architect
Venue: The AVA Room, Sacred Heart Hall,
St Ignatius Church, 120 Kings Road
Date: Thursday, 2nd March 2000
Time: 8.00 PM
Organised by the JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE, SINGAPORE.
For more information please contact:
Fr Colin Tan, S.J. at Tel. 469 7356 or
Paul Lo at 462 6236

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