Indonesian invasion of East Timor

Thirty-three years on from the Santa Cruz massacre, the trauma of Indonesia's occupation of Timor-Leste remains, reports Leo Earle.

Bella Galhos

Leo Earle interviewed former political exile, LGBTQ activist and presidential advisor, Bella Galhos, on a recent visit to Timor Leste.

woman's face

Joviana Guterres works for justice and rights for women victims of past violations of human rights in Timor Leste. She spoke to Green Left’s Coral Wynter and Jim McIlroy during their recent visit to the capital, Dili.

Shirley Shackleton, even with her own tragedy, made common cause with the Timorese people’s struggle and resistance. She will be remembered, writes Stephen Langford.

Stephen Langford, long term solidarity activist with Timor Leste and secretary of the Australia East Timor Association NSW in the 1980s and 1990s, was awarded the Order of Timor Medal in a special ceremony in Maliana, Timor Leste, on May 20 as part of Independence Day celebrations. The Indonesian government illegally occupied Timor Leste for 24 years from 1975 to 1999. The Australian government was complicit in the invasion, never opposing the actions of the Indonesian government, despite five Australian journalists being killed by the Indonesian military just before the invasion.