East Timor remains haunted by the trauma of its 24-year occupation by Indonesia. For many, it's been a grueling struggle to find justice for crimes committed against them and their families. Berta dos Santos was just nine years old when Indonesian soldiers brutally attacked her village in December 1975. She recalls being forced into hiding with others as soldiers searched for women and girls. Dos Santos, who has since become a prominent advocate for human rights, said she was violently raped by the soldiers.
Her mother Helena was taken away and forced into sexual slavery. The trauma of those events continues to affect dos Santos today. "I have let go of my pain, my anger, my resentment and my bitterness long ago," she said. But her family's experience is just one of many stories from East Timor's occupation.
Major-General Americo Ximenes, also known as Sabika Besi Kulit or "Metal Skin", was a key figure in the country's resistance against Indonesia. Ximenes fought for 24 years in the jungle before being captured and forced to flee to Australia. He believes that justice should be served at home.
"It only those who have fought in the jungle, they're the ones that understand each other," he said. While some, like dos Santos, have sought healing through reconciliation, others, including Ximenes, believe that those responsible for human rights abuses during the occupation should face justice.
However, East Timor's current government has prioritised a good relationship with Indonesia over accountability. The country remains deeply reliant on Jakarta as an economic partner and has also joined ASEAN. This has created tension within the country between those who want to maintain ties with Indonesia and those who demand justice for past atrocities.
The lack of accountability for crimes committed during the occupation is a source of ongoing pain for many East Timorese. The exact number of victims remains unknown, but it's estimated that up to 200,000 people died during the conflict. Only one person has been convicted of crimes related to the occupation - Eurico Guterres, a pro-Indonesian militia leader.
Efforts by Human Rights Watch have highlighted the need for Indonesia to bring perpetrators to justice. However, the Indonesian government remains unwilling to do so, with some even being hailed as national heroes.
Her mother Helena was taken away and forced into sexual slavery. The trauma of those events continues to affect dos Santos today. "I have let go of my pain, my anger, my resentment and my bitterness long ago," she said. But her family's experience is just one of many stories from East Timor's occupation.
Major-General Americo Ximenes, also known as Sabika Besi Kulit or "Metal Skin", was a key figure in the country's resistance against Indonesia. Ximenes fought for 24 years in the jungle before being captured and forced to flee to Australia. He believes that justice should be served at home.
"It only those who have fought in the jungle, they're the ones that understand each other," he said. While some, like dos Santos, have sought healing through reconciliation, others, including Ximenes, believe that those responsible for human rights abuses during the occupation should face justice.
However, East Timor's current government has prioritised a good relationship with Indonesia over accountability. The country remains deeply reliant on Jakarta as an economic partner and has also joined ASEAN. This has created tension within the country between those who want to maintain ties with Indonesia and those who demand justice for past atrocities.
The lack of accountability for crimes committed during the occupation is a source of ongoing pain for many East Timorese. The exact number of victims remains unknown, but it's estimated that up to 200,000 people died during the conflict. Only one person has been convicted of crimes related to the occupation - Eurico Guterres, a pro-Indonesian militia leader.
Efforts by Human Rights Watch have highlighted the need for Indonesia to bring perpetrators to justice. However, the Indonesian government remains unwilling to do so, with some even being hailed as national heroes.
It's like they're living in a state of limbo, knowing the truth but not being able to do anything about it. I think it's really unfair that some people who committed these heinous crimes are even celebrated as heroes 
. Those responsible for human rights abuses should be held accountable, no matter how long ago it happened.
. Healing from such pain takes time, but I hope that one day East Timor will get the justice it deserves 
. It's not just about closure for the victims and their families, it's also about sending a message that these kinds of atrocities won't be tolerated in the future 
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. East Timor has every right to demand justice for its people and I hope they'll find a way to make their voices heard soon 
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. And get me wrong, I'm all for maintaining good relations with our neighbors, but at what cost? 
It's clear that some people in power are more concerned with economic ties than justice and accountability 
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️. But because it happened in a remote part of the world, it seems like nobody's holding Indonesia accountable 
. It's heartbreaking to see families still struggling for justice, and I really hope that things will change soon 
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. I mean, 200k+ people died during that occupation...it's just insane 
. I wish we could see more accountability from Indonesia for their actions. Maybe if they acknowledge what happened in the past, it'll help heal some of that trauma 
. But at this point, it feels like justice is just a pipe dream 
I know we can't change the past, but it's so important for our leaders to acknowledge the suffering of their people and take concrete steps towards justice 
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. I wish East Timor could find a way to balance good relations with Jakarta while also holding their own leaders accountable for past atrocities 
But instead of taking action, they're just trying to keep things hush-hush with Indonesia 
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. I'd love to see some concrete evidence of the gov's efforts to bring perpetrators to justice before I believe they're doing enough 
Need more info on this one 
... 200,000+ people killed and only one person convicted? 
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I get where Ximenes is coming from, fighting in the jungle and all, but you can't deny that justice needs to be served. It's time for the government to step up and make things right, not just for the victims' families but for themselves too...
. The fact remains, though, that justice needs to be served, and it needs to be done now 
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. And what's really frustrating is that there's only one person who's been convicted of crimes related to the occupation...one out of 200,000 victims. That's just a drop in the ocean 
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. The truth needs to come out and justice needs to be served. It's time for East Timor (and Indonesia) to face their past and make amends 
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. It's crazy dat her mom got taken away & forced into slavery 
. Why can't East Timor's gov just stand up 2 Indonesia & demand answers?