The Massacre Santa
Cruz was happened in 1991. It is known to all
Timorese people and many other people in world as
November 12, 1991. During that Massacre, there were
at least 271 Timorese people were killed, 278 people
were wounded, 103 people were hospitalized and 270
people were disappeared (see
http://www.etan.org/timor/SntaCRUZ.htm). At that
time, I was just a 6th grade Elementary
School student in my beloved sub-village Hatuhei.
Hatuhei is one of the fourteen sub-villages in
Ducurai Village. It is located in Letefoho
Sub-District, the District of Ermera. I just
followed the news about Santa Cruz Massacre, at that
time, through radio channels and heard from many of
my related family members, cousins and others who
participated in the demonstration and survived the
massacre.
|
We
appreciate your great commitment in advocacy
for defending human rights and human right
defenders, advocate for upholding justice
and rule of law, especially in Timor-Leste.
|
As a sixth grade
elementary school student at that time, of course my
knowledge about things happened within the country
and abroad was limited. I did not realize that ETAN
is a global network, which contributes much to the
freedom and the self determination of Timor Leste
since 1991. Yes, to be honest, even during the three
and half years staying in Yogyakarta-Indonesia, from
September 2002-November 2005, I had never used ETAN
as a network to read updated news on Timor-Leste
because I did not know that it exists as a global
media network.
I began to know and
got familiar with ETAN when I began my career as a
young Timorese lawyer with the Judicial System
Monitoring Program (JSMP) from the beginning of
2006-September 2008. Nearly all JSMP’s publications
were also published by ETAN. Since then, I became to
realize that East Timor and Indonesia Action Network
(ETAN) is one among other global networks that plays
a tremendous role in defending human rights and
justice for all Timorese and Indonesian people and
contribute much to the development of Judicial
system and advocacy for upholding rule of law within
these two neighboring countries. Through its direct
engagement with UN Security Council, the
international communities in the world may know and
understand about the issues on human rights, justice
and rule of law that happen within these two
countries and to address and advocate for the
improvement if the situation becomes worst.
In this remarkable 20th
anniversary of ETAN, as a Timorese, I would like to
express my sincere gratitude to ETAN for the
tremendous contribution it had done during the two
decades. I believe there are many things and
victories have been achieved by ETAN so far.
Congratulations. We are proud of your existence,
your activities and achievements. We appreciate your
great commitment in advocacy for defending human
rights and human right defenders, advocate for
upholding justice and rule of law, especially in
Timor-Leste.
I wish ETAN a very
happy anniversary. I hope ETAN will become stronger
and stronger to continue support and contribute to
the development of Timor Leste and Indonesian
judicial system through media communication and
advocacy, as well as to contribute to defending and
protecting human rights for all people in these two
neighboring countries. I have a strong desire and
believe that through contribution of all parties
including ETAN, upholding rule of law and justice
and human rights protection in Timor-Leste and
Indonesia will be achieved. I am confident to say
that absolutely many Timorese young generations have
a dream of changes to Timor-Leste future
development. Things will be getting better and
better although needs time to achieve.
Happy Anniversary to
ETAN for the celebration of 2 decades of ETAN
Existence and I wish ETAN will achieve more.
Best Wishes
Timotio de Deus
Graduate Student
Transnational Law and Business University (TLBU)
Graduate School of Law in Seoul
Read additional reflections on ETAN's
20th Anniversary
Help ETAN
celebrate our 20th Anniversary. Donate today! |
|
With your help, we can put ETAN on a firmer footing for the
future.
Please give generously in this anniversary year. In doing so,
you can help strengthen
ETAN to meet the challenges of the coming years.
Read Noam Chomsky on 20 years of ETAN
|