DILI, 10 november 2023 (TATOLI) – The Netherlands community in Timor-Leste, together with Press Council, the Association for Law, and Human Rights and Justice (HAK), journalists, and activists, on tuesday, inaugurated a monument dedicated to Dutch journalist, Sander Thoenes, murdered in september 21, 1999, in Dili.
HAK’s Executive Director, Feliciano De Araújo said the monument is to remember and acknowledge the dedication and sacrifice of Sander Thoenes to Timor-Leste’s independence.
He said that Sanders’ story exposed to the world the injustice that was happening in the country, stating that his pursuit of truth is a vital cornerstone for a just and equal society in Timor-Leste.
“May your camera continue to capture the truth and may your voice continue to sound even louder in the name of press freedom. Rest in Peace,” Araújo said.
He said that Sanders’ dedication reminded Timorese citizens that they must continue to fight for truth in the country.
At the same place, the President of the Press Council, Otelio Ote, said that Sanders was a great journalist whom Timorese journalists should look up to as a role model.
“I learned many things from him. Unfortunately, he was killed by Indonesian army soldiers. We were all journalists at the time and we still remember Sander. Sanders and other journalists who died for Timor-Leste’s independence are our heroes,” said Ote.
Otelio Ote pledged to establish an award in honor of Sanders Thoenes to remember his dedication and sacrifices for the country’s independence.
Hilly Bonoman, representative of the Sander family, said that the monument is a symbol of inspiration for young people, journalists, and activities so that they continue to fight for human rights and freedom.
Bas, Sanders’ brother, said: “The family is deeply moved by the fact that Timor-Leste has not forgotten Sander and that you continue to look after his monument and hold memorials at this exact location on a regular basis.” “We are immensely grateful that the monument has now been moved to this safest spot and has thus been preserved for the future, through a joint effort of Timorese and Dutch in Dili.”
Sander’s family hopes that the tree next to Sander’s monument has grown tall: “And that people would still come together in its shades and remember our Sandy and what he stood for searching for the truth. “Again, thank you for remembering our Sander.”
Sander Thoenes (november 7, 1968 – september 21, 1999) was a Dutch journalist who was killed in Dili, by soldiers of the Indonesian army. He was shot when their paths crossed on a road as the Indonesians withdrew from the territory.
The body of Sanders, 30, was found on the morning of september 22 by United Nations forces in the Dili suburb of Becora, where Indonesian military and anti-independence militia forces had been active.
Sander was shot dead on the evening of september 21, when his motorcycle taxi attempted to escape a group of armed men blocking the road, according to investigators with the U.N. civilian police force.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
