BY LYLE FRENCH

MELBOURNE — After 27 years of working for their country's freedom, the East Timorese community in Melbourne and their Australian supporters celebrated their newly-won independence on May 20.

Collingwood Town Hall was packed with some 2000 people, who watched a replay of the independence celebrations in Dili on a giant video screen and listened to musical performances, speeches and an official ceremony.

After a candle-lit ceremony, the national anthem ``Patria, Patria'' was played while a large flag of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste was unfurled above the main stage.

Perhaps the most moving speech came from Etervina Groenen, from the new nation's department of foreign affairs. Groenen paid tribute to all those East Timorese not able to celebrate because they had sacrificed their lives in the struggle. We can be glad that they have not died in vain, she said.

Among the other speakers were Yarra mayor Sue Corby; the president of the Timorese Association in Victoria, Salustiano Freitas; the secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, Leigh Hubbard; and Helen Hunt of the Australia-East Timor Association.

From Green Left Weekly, May 29, 2002.
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