DILI, 06 october 2021 (TATOLI) – Steering Committee (CO25) and the Max Stahl Audiovisual Archive Center (CAMSTL) signed an agreement on exchanging historical documents with each other to write the history of Timor-Leste’s 24-year resistance.
“The aim of signing this agreement is to establish cooperation between CO25 and CAMSTL on exchanging historical documents to facilitate the research of CO25, which is crucial for writing the history of Timor-Leste,” the President of CO25, Constancio Pinto ‘Terus’ told reporters after signing the agreement at the CAMSTL office, in Dili, on tuesday.
He said CAMSTL had been collecting and keeping historical documents, including the important data of the historical events of the 24-year resistance. Through this agreement will enable CO25 to have access to the important documents and information stored at CAMSTL.
He said CO25 will publish the history of Timor-Leste (Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), adding, therefore, the cooperation with CAMSTL would facilitate CO25’s research and writing process of those books.
“CO25 had been planning to publish the drafts of the history of Timor-Leste (Vol. 1, 2, and 3) at the end of the year. Vol.1 concentrates on historical events that happened between 1974 to 75, Vol.2 focuses on the fall of the FRETILIN base, and Vol.3 is about the rise of diplomatic and clandestine fronts,” Terus affirmed.
“You know Timor-Leste’s history is complex, so good research is needed to write it. Apart from books, CO25 will also write Timor-Leste History Magazine,” he said.
In addition, Terus said that: “In terms of technical support, CAMSTL will facilitate archival and research skill training for CO25.”
At the same place, the Member of the Board of CAMSTL, Tomas Lim O Haolain informed that he receive information about the great injustice in Timor-Leste through the footage of Max Stahl on the Santa Cruz massacre, on november 12, 1991.
“We set up a campaign with some friends known as the ‘East Timor Island Solidarity’ and we traveled all over Ireland speaking to school groups, to community groups, to whoever would listen to us. Many people join the campaign to help out and we are different groups all over Ireland campaign for East Timor,” said Haolain.
He said Ireland’s policy changed on East Timor and Ireland Foreign Minister wrote an article that Ireland did not accept Indonesian military presence in East Timor and Ireland wanted a referendum to find out the wishes of the people.
“We were your outside support. We supported you from our own countries, but the most important happening was you Timorese never gave up hope. You struggled, you fought, you campaigned and eventually, you got your referendum, followed by independence and now you are one of the countries among the community of Asia,” Haolain added.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
