E. Timorese mark anniversary of massacre
E. Timorese mark anniversary of massacre
Associated Press, Dili, East Timor
Thousands of East Timorese gathered at the Santa Cruz cemetery on
Monday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of a brutal massacre
by Indonesian troops that shocked the world and paved the way for
the territory's independence.
Standing in the midday heat, survivors and family members of
those killed held bouquets of flowers and listened to speeches by
East Timorese leaders outside the cemetery in the capital Dili.
"November 12, 1991 was the day that opened the eyes of the
international community to the injustices that were taking place
here," said Francisco Guterres, president of East Timor's interim
legislature.
The commemoration began with an early morning Mass celebrated
by Nobel peace prize laureate Bishop Carlos Belo in the church
where, 10 years ago, a young pro-independence activist was shot
dead by Indonesian soldiers.
It was during his funeral at the capital's Santa Cruz cemetery
that troops poured automatic fire into a column of mourners,
killing about 200 civilians.
The event, caught on camera by a British journalist, was
broadcast worldwide and marked the beginning of an international
campaign for independence for the tiny Southeast Asian territory
which had been occupied by Indonesia in 1975.
East Timor has been under UN administration since a 1999
independence referendum.
That vote was followed by an orgy of killings, destruction by
the withdrawing anti-independence groups. The world body has been
rebuilding the province ever since then.
Full independence is scheduled for May next year.
Over the past two years, UN investigators have attempted to
establish the exact number of victims of the Santa Cruz massacre
and where they are buried. Police officers already have located a
possible mass grave site.
In Washington, human rights activists urged the administration
of President George W. Bush to support the creation of an
international tribunal for war crimes committed in East Timor.