APSIG newsletter no. 62: November 2006

Preserving east Timor's history

Preserving East Timor's history: Jill Jolliffe speaks in Canberra

In a presentation sponsored by Amnesty International at the National Library of Australia on 27 September 2006, journalist and Timor 'veteran' Jill Jolliffe gave a large audience a moving and challenging insight into the East Timor Living Memory Project. The project, initiated and directed by Jill, aims to document the human rights abuses inflicted upon the civilian population of east Timor by both Indonesian forces and Timorese political parties. The project films interviews with civilian victims of imprisonment and torture. It also collects documents and photos, all to be stored finally in a permanent archive in Dili.

But this is not simply a story about preservation of library material for historical interest; there are important ramifications for the current situation in East Timor as the country tries to come to terms with its violent past. At the individual level the recording of experiences may assist people to overcome the trauma they suffered; at a political level it may lend weight to efforts to ensure that justice is done and genuine reconciliation can take place.

Initially funded largely by the Southeast Asian Digital Library at the University of Northern Illinois, the project has so far filmed 52 interviews with former political prisoners. More financial sponsorship is required to continue.

Jill's talk highlighted several individual experiences as well as an account of the current state of progress. She showed the film of Simplicio, who had been injured and arrested during the infamous Santa Cruz massacre in 1991. With him, we trace his traumatic journey during the hours, days and weeks following the massacre as we visit the actual site of Santa Cruz, a hospital and a prison. It is a cathartic experience for Simplicio and a revealing and confronting occasion for the Australian audience.

There are many men like Simplicio, from both sides, emotionally and psychologically damaged by the violent recent past in East Timor. It may be possible to interpret the recent outburst of fighting and violent street demonstrations in Dili in April 2006 as a result of the constant violence of the past forty years and the lack of any justice for the victims or genuine reconciliation between parties. Alfredo Reinado (the so-called leader of the 'rebel' police) as a child endured a life of dislocation few Australians could imagine: parents fleeing to the hills in 1975, a child soldier in the Indonesian army, moved to Sulawesi virtually as a servant of an Indonesian officer, escaping to join the Fretilin forces and then time as a refugee in Australia.

Many issues relating to the current situation in East Timor were raised during discussion. East Timor is in a difficult position itself to pursue prosecutions in Indonesia given its dependence on its large neighbour. But international action may be beginning to increase pressure on the Jakarta government. In the meantime, the Living Memory Project is doing its part to provide victims with the opportunity to tell their story.

The Project can be contacted on troppo_media@yahoo.com.nospam (please remove '.nospam' from address). (George Miller)