TIMOR RE-EMERGING FROM THE ASHES

By Constantino Hermanns Xavier

Little is known of Timor and its inhabitants before 1500, although Chinese and Javanese traders visited the island in search of plentiful sandalwood and beeswax from the 13th century. Portuguese traders first arrived in 1509 and the island was later split between Portugal and Holland colonial powers. Following the 1974 democratic revolution in Portugal, several political parties sprang up and independence was declared. Indonesia took advantage of an internal dispute between the two major Timorese parties, Fretilin and the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT), and the invasion commenced on 7 December 1975.

The Indonesian occupation was brutal. The cost to the Timorese people was horrific, with estimates of 100,000 or more dead, many through starvation or disease. The United Nations did not recognise Indonesia's sovereignty over East Timor. Even in Portugal there was a strong current until the 90s favouring the recognition of Timor as an integral part of Indonesia – in the line with what had been done with Goa, Daman and Diu in 1974. On its side India also kept silent on the issue and never openly condemned the Timorese right to self-determination.

But the world was alerted to East Timor's plight on 12 November 1991, when army troops opened fire on protesters at the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, with the horrific video images shown around the world. The region was again in the news in 1996 when East Timorese Catholic Bishop Carlos Belo and leading Timor spokesman José Ramos-Horta won the Nobel Peace Prize. Finally a referendum was announced for East Timorese. 80% of the people of East Timor voted for independence. But the celebrations were short-lived as the militia groups, with backing from the Indonesian military, commenced a rampage and tens of thousands of East Timorese were killed or forced to flee.

The United Nations Transitional Administration was established in October 1999 to administer East Timor. Aid and foreign workers flooded into the country to assist with rebuilding the civil service, police, judiciary, education and health systems. The first presidential elections were held in April 2002, with popular independence leader Xanana Gusmao winning by a landslide. The current population is one-million strong. The population is predominantly Roman Catholic (90%), with a Muslim (5%) minority.

During the Portuguese colonial period, Timor was under the political rule of the Portuguese State of India from which it was only detached in 1844. At the side of the Portuguese, Goans have from an early period settled in Timor as administrative officers and priests. In 1738 there was a seminary in Manatuto where the Oratorians from Goa taught basic educational skills. The clergy at the end of the 19 th century was reduced to two Goan priests.

But, during the 19 th century there was another population link between Goa and Timor. Some rebels (Desais from Sawantwadi) had sought refuge in Goa from the British. The Portuguese had accepted their request for asylum and finally they were taken to Timor. What has become of this population? Are the few Hindus in Timor a proof of this historical migration?

In the latter period of Portuguese rule there was a Goan from Curtorim, Salcete, named Francisco Xavier de Menezes. He started his career as an administrator of Atulia (Maubisse) and of the municipalities of Baucau and Ermera. He was director of the Timor Tourism Centre and President of the Municipality of Dili, currently the capital of the country and major city. He is now living in Dili where he is senior advisor to the present Government.

Another Goan is Fr. José Álvaro Nolato Santimano Menezes e Monteiro, originally from Taleigão. His church, in Dili, is a home for orphans, widows and the most needy ones. Then there is Roque Rodrigues, a Timorese son of Goan parents and Secretary of State for Defense in the current Government. Other Goans in Timor were Mártires Dias (government official in the 40's), Rodolfo Colaço (judge), Sales Gomes and Francisco Benigno Ramos (doctor) and Fr. Luis José Vaz (from Panjim).

It is impossible to define the scope of potential that may be explored between Goa and East Timor. But one example of the Timorese goodwill is perhaps enough. When in 2003 I interviewed José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace co-laureate and current Minister for Foreign Affairs, he expressed highest consideration for Goans he knew during his career and stated, “we are particularly interested in exploring ties of cooperation with Goa”.

Back