DILI, 12 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta says that the footage and images taken by the British and Timorese filmmaker and journalist, Max Stahl played a vital role in strengthening the work of the armed, diplomatic, and clandestine fronts of the Timorese resistance.
Horta made the comments in his speech during the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the Santa Cruz Massacre and the celebration of the 17th National Youth Day at Santa Cruz Cemetery, in Dili, today.
“When film footage of the massacre at Santa Cruz was broadcast to audiences around the world, it provoked a significant international outcry against the practices of the Indonesian military in Timor-Leste,” according to the Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor (CAVR).
Horta said that besides Max Stahl’s footage, several foreign journalists and activists also contribute immensely to uncovering the suffering of the Timorese people.
“Let us not forget the contribution of US reporters, Amy Goodman and Allan Nairn, and a veteran East Timor activist from the Netherlands, Saskia Kouwenberg,” Horta said.
Amy Goodman is an American broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter, and author. Her investigative journalism career includes covering the East Timor independence movement.
Meanwhile, Allan Nairn is an American investigative journalist. He was arrested by Indonesian military forces under US-backed strongman Suharto while reporting in East Timor.
Amy Goodman and Allan Nairn, two US journalists, were beaten during the Santa Cruz Massacre.
Millions of people all over the world saw the footage of the massacre because of the bravery of the Dutch activist, Saskia Kouwenberg.
Saskia Kouwenberg risked her life to get Stahl’s tape out of an occupied East Timor — and into the global media.
“It was scary. It was very scary. But I became very single-minded. All I could think was: I’m going to get these tapes out,” Kouwenberg told newmatilda.com.
Kouwenberg told newmatilda.com. that within three days of the footage appearing on Dutch TV, up to one hundred television stations across the world had also shown it. This was a watershed moment. Overnight, East Timor became a mainstream issue.
President Horta honored the contribution of the International Solidarity Movements towards East Timorese resistance and independence.
The Head of State also calls for the recognition of the contribution of the religious leaders toward the independence of the nation.
The Santa Cruz massacre was the murder of at least 250 East Timorese pro-independence demonstrators in the Santa Cruz cemetery in the capital, Dili, on November 12, 1991.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
