DILI, 16 October 2025 (TATOLI) – On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Balibó Tragedy, President and Nobel Peace Laureate. Jose Ramos-Horta today posthumously conferred the Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste upon national and international journalists who lost their lives in the Timor-Leste struggle for Independence.
The Order of Timor-Leste is the nation’s highest honor, bestowed upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the country. This posthumous award recognizes that the courageous work of these journalists was instrumental in bringing the plight of the Timorese people to the attention of the world.
Under the Decree of the President of The Republic No. 102/2025: the posthumous Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste is awarded to:
1. Gary Cunningham, was a New Zealand-born journalist and camera operator for Melbourne’s Channel 7. Born on October 27, 1947, in Wellington, New Zealand, he was 27 years old when he was killed in Balibo on October 16, 1975.
2. Tony Stewart was an Australian journalist and sound technician for Melbourne’s Channel 7. He was the youngest of the group, killed in Balibo at the age of 21 on October 16, 1975.
3. Malcolm Rennie was a British journalist and reporter for Channel 9, based in Sydney, Australia. He was 29 years old when he was killed in Balibo on October 16, 1975.
4. Brian Peters was a British journalist and camera operator for Sydney’s Channel 9. He was 26 years old when he was killed alongside his colleagues in Balibo on October 16, 1975.
5. Francisco Borja da Costa was a poet and journalist, he wrote the revolutionary anthem “Foho Ramelau” and Timor-Leste’s national anthem, “Pátria.” He was killed by Indonesian forces during the invasion of Dili on December 7, 1975, at age 29.
6. Kamal Bin Ahmed Bamadhaj was a New Zealand-Malaysian student and human rights activist, he was the only foreign citizen killed in the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre in Dili. He was 21 years old.
7. Bernardinho Joaquim Afonso Guterres “Berekai” was a resistance activist and journalist for Rádiu FM Matebian Lian, he used his radio broadcasts to mobilize for the 1999 referendum. He was shot and killed by Indonesian police just four days before the vote, becoming an international symbol of the human rights violations in East Timor.
8. Sander Thoenes was a Dutch journalist for the Financial Times, he was assigned to report on the INTERFET peacekeeping mission in Dili. He was killed by withdrawing Indonesian soldiers on September 21, 1999.
9. Agus Mulyawan was an Indonesian journalist; he dedicated his work to covering Timor-Leste. He was killed by a militia on September 25, 1999, while documenting the stories of Falintil guerrillas and leaders.
Under the Decree of the President of The Republic No. 25/2014, President Ramos-Horta has already honored the posthumous Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste to:
1. Greg Shackleton was an Australian journalist and reporter for Melbourne-based Channel 7. Born on August 24, 1946, in Brisbane, Australia, he was killed in the East Timorese village of Balibo at the age of 29 on October 16, 1975.
2. Roger East was an Australian journalist; he traveled to Timor to investigate the Balibó Five killings and co-founded the East Timor News Agency. He was the only foreign reporter who remained in Dili and was executed by Indonesian forces during the invasion on December 8, 1975.
Marking the solemn anniversary, President Ramos-Horta stated, “The Balibó Tragedy remains a symbol of the sacrifice of journalists in conflict zones and the ongoing struggle for accountability and justice for war crimes. We pay tribute to the families, activists, and the government for keeping the memory of the Balibó Five alive, honoring them as national martyrs.”
The President added,“We recognize the invaluable role of other journalists who, with courage, professionalism, and a profound sense of humanity, dedicated themselves to reporting to the world on the Timorese people’s struggle for freedom and self-determination. Their reports and testimonies contributed to raising international awareness of the injustices suffered by Timor-Leste, thus becoming an indelible part of our history of resistance and nation-building.”
The Honor ceremony was a central part of Timor-Leste’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Balibó Tragedy and National Press Freedom Day, ensuring that the memory and contributions of these journalists are forever enshrined in the national consciousness.
TATOLI
