5 Myths about the Annexation of East Timor: DEBUNKED!
5 Myths Debunked series is always about culture. A series of articles that talk about international and our local culture: with that, it doesn’t always have to be happy-ending-information. 17 July this year will mark the 45th anniversary of the annexation of what we used to know as the Province of East Timor. As a young and educated generation, we should never forget about history, even if it means bloody history from our ancestors.
Indonesian police attacked a Timorese (1999) during Indonesia invasion in East Timor – Photo taken by John Stanmeyer
- East Timor should belong in Indonesia
This one is a misconception. Some Indonesians thought that all the Dutch colonies needed to be united under one umbrella or one nation named Indonesia. But they must be sleeping during their history class. Before it was known as East Timor, that area in the Timor island used to be called Portuguese Timor. Get it? It was never part of the Dutch, and therefore Indonesia has no right to claim it in the first place.
- The invasion was because of the idea of Great Nusantara
A little bit tricky, but wrong. The idea to annex Portuguese Timor showed up thanks to the failure of the U.S. in Vietnam. During the Cold War, it was either communist or capitalist. While it is true that those in-between existed during the war, our focus was on those two ideologies. After the fall of South Vietnam, the fear of communism in Southeast Asia rose so high to the point where the U.S. influenced President Soeharto to invade the Portuguese Timor. Due to the fear, many lives were lost.
- Indonesia was the only one to blame
You are sala or wrong in the Tetum language. There are many factors to be counted for the bloody invasion in Portuguese Timor. But Indonesia was not the only killer. Say it, the United States, who influenced Indonesia’s Second President Soeharto, Australia, and many U.S. allies who also supported the invasion. But in the end, the support that the U.S. and Australia gave were withdrawn, and the screams “Free East Timor” came into existence.
- Timorese wanted to join Indonesia
This myth could be wrong. So if you’re a Timorese or understand this history better, please leave a comment. During the annexation and the establishment of the Province of East Timor, a party supported the idea of one nation with Indonesia. The party was APODETI (Timorese Popular Democratic Association). Its first leader, Arnaldo dos Reis Aruajo, became the first governor of the province under Indonesia control. When it comes to this myth, many voices need to be heard. And with my limited knowledge, I don’t think those who believe in integration with Indonesia were correct. It was a bloody event, the military from Indonesia raped many Timorese women, killed countless children, and those in their right mind wouldn’t believe in such a thing.
- Present-day East Timor is now in a better condition
Many Timorese would find it hard to describe that their daily lives are better than many nations in Southeast Asia. The hypocrisy of Australia is not a secret anymore. International relationship student or not, it’s a well-known fact that there is a dispute regarding oil between East Timor and Australia. Despite the oil dispute, the country’s condition is far better than during the occupation of Indonesia. Poverty and many issues still exist, but they’re far more tolerable than what Indonesia did. Colonialism should never be considered a better option.
East Timor is like our childhood friend who turned into an enemy, but later we befriended them again. It has been 45 years since the bloody event in Timor island, such a long time to be used for blaming one another. Seeing Indonesians say that the Timorese were ungrateful is common nowadays. Instead of being ignorant of history, let’s help each other to become a better nation to live in. East Timor still has a long way to go since it’s a young nation, and as its neighbor, we should offer as much help as we can.
Editor: Nadia Salsabila
