Atauro Island, Timor Lorosa'e
Ai, Timor
Se outros calam
Cantemos nós!
17
years ago, the year was 1999, I remember joining a crowd of
portuguese supporters, all dressed in white, who gathered at the
Universidade de Lisboa campus to express solidarity and make a stand for
the East Timor independence. Jorge Sampaio was then the President,
who strongly commited himself to this cause.
With
tears of hope in my eyes I sang along with that huge crowd a
beautiful song of support, “Ai Timor...” (Oh Timor), and never
in my life will I forget that moment.
Here's another moment singing for East Timor:
YouTube: "Emrys Barros"
7
years before, a students’ initiative had already brought the
portuguese together aboard a ferry-boat, the “Lusitânia Expresso”,
which sailed to Timor with the “Mission:Peace in Timor” in mind
and the purpose of expressing solidarity with the victims of the
Santa Cruz massacre.
The
boat was then threatened by military planes at the limits of the
indonesian territorial waters and forced to stop and retreat by four
indonesian war vessels, two days after, in March 11, and after a 3
month jorney through the seas. But before heading back home, these
young people filled the ocean with flowers in memory of all the dead
in the massacre. And they did succeed in bringing the East Timor’s
independence issue back to the international agenda.
In
1999, following the self-determination act backed up by the UN, the
indonesian government quit the control over the territory and East
Timor became the first sovereign state of the XXIst century, in May
2002.
And that’s what really matters the most, above all.
And that’s what really matters the most, above all.
Portuguese
is nowadays one of the two official languages in the country, along
with Tétum, and the country has also joined the CPLP (literally,
Community of Portuguese Language Countries).
_________
The
thing is I have always nurtured a special tenderness for this country
and the people. It is then with great emotion that I watch these
celebration images, today, after Portugal qualified for the Euro 2016
finals.
Thank
you for the love, Timor Lorosa’e, we love you too!
YouTube: "Facebook Videos"
Ana
Vassalo
Jul 7,
2016
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