92 Augc
wrong, that is not what happened!’ I guess that’s why I became
an interpreter at 17, a TV newsreader at 18, and then a filmmaker- to tell the truth.”
Francisca’s films explore social problems in Timor-Leste,
particularly the history of cultural oppression and political
violence. She wants to raise awareness through stories of
Timor-Leste’s past, to help shape its future. “I think that for
my generation, our spirit is bigger than our age, because we
have had to take responsibility for our country at such a young
age,” she says. “Our creative community of artists, writers,
musicians and filmmakers tells the stories of our times, because
we’ve been shaped by them. We have no choice. Our country
is not a baby anymore. It’s growing up. It’s time it stood alone,
and we all want to help that process.”
Nation-building through the culture of youth is not unique
to Timor-Leste, but its intensity here is inspiring. It’s the
reason filmmaker Shaun Cairns and I have been working for
more than two years to make our documentary Generation 99,
which we hope will explain the situation in Timor-Leste to
Australian audiences.
We’re focusing on the artists, filmmakers, and musicians
who, although they were born into conf lict, have emerged to
create a vibrant new culture that is inspiring hope and prosper-
ity in Timor-Leste. In many cases, their survival itself is inspi-
rational, but how they are using the lessons learnt in war to
unite their people in peace is awe-inspiring.
TIMELINE OF TIMORLESTE
43,000 years ago:
First evidence of
human occupation1600s: Timor
invaded by the
Portuguese who set
the island up as a
trading post and
a source of
sandalwood.1849: Timor
splits following
battle between
Portuguese and
Dutch. Portuguese
taketheeastern
py
o1974: Revolution
in Portugal leads to
promise to free
colonies, encourag-
ing parties to
prepare for a
new future.1975 August:
Portuguese
administration
withdraws to the
offshore island
of Atauro.1975 October:
Five Australian
journalistskilledinlhbddbecameknownas
teaboe1975
28 November: East
Timor declares
itself independent.1975
7 December:
Indonesia invades,
using its fight
against com-
munism as a
pretext. It annexes
the territory as its
27th province, a
move not recog-
nised by the United
Nations. From
1975, strong and
ongoing resistance
to Indonesian rule is
quashed by violent
repression and fam-
ine, leading to the
deaths of an
estimated 200,000
people by 1999.1991
12 November:
Indonesian troops
fire on mourners at
the funeral in Dili of
a supporter of East
Timorese independ-
ence, killing 250
people. Footage of
the massacre is
captured by
journalists and
released, causing
outrage around the
world. The Dili
Massacre becomes
a turning point for
sympathy for
pro-independence
East Timorese.1999 January:
Indonesia says it
will consider
independence for
East Timor if the
people vote for
autonomy.1999 May:
Indonesia and
Portugal sign
agreement to allow
East Timorese to
vote on their future.
Deal endorsed by
the UN.1999 30 August:
Almost 99 per cent
of 450,000-strong
electorate votes in
UN-organised
referendum. A clear
majority (78.5 per
cent) are in favour
of independence.Gg
S
oeote
Baboe1999
Australian-led
forces arrive
in Timor to
restore orderAnanias ‘Otopsy’ Carlos is leader
of the popular band Klamar, whose
politically edged songs follow the
tradition of earlier protest bands
Cinco do Oriente and Galaxy.92 Australian Geographic
take the eastern
part in the Treaty
of Lisbon.journalists killed in
the village of Balibo
along the border
with West Timor,
allegedly by
Indonesian troops.
There to report on
Indonesia’s illegal
invasion, they
became known as became known as
the ‘Balibo Five’.1975, strong and
ongoing resistance
to Indonesian rule is
quashed by violent
repression and fam-
ine, leading to the
deaths of an
estimated 200,000
people by 1999.Greg
Shackleton:
one of the
Balibo Five