Timor-Leste, from massacre to transformation – 01/24/2024 – Robson Jesus

Timor-Leste, once again that common sense: conflicts, attacks and massacres. However, on this, my 155th visit to a foreign country, I came across a rich culture, captivating stories and natural beauty. Since 1991, the year in which the Santa Cruz Massacre occurred, this country has experienced many conflicts due to friction with Indonesia.

This record of history is also remembered in the capital. I was able to visit the Santa Cruz cemetery, in Dili, where there was an attack on Timorese who were protesting against the occupation of the country by Indonesians.

However, the atmosphere of the trip improved from the moment I visited the 12th of November Monument, which pays homage to the young man who died fighting for the country’s independence.

I also saw Christ the King, similar to our Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro. And I noticed that the times of massacre were over when I sat on the white sands of the beach, took a deep breath in front of a magnificent sunset and developed respect for the country’s history.

However, the most significant experience I had in Timor was caused by a man I met at Dili airport, Mr. Hugo. A local resident, he was waiting for his wife to disembark from the same plane I was on. I had just arrived from Australia, and he noticed that I was looking for information regarding accommodation.

So, he came towards me. After a few exchanges of words, he suggested that I spend the night at his house, with his family. I accepted the invitation and then we went for lunch at a restaurant with cuisine similar to Brazilian customs: rice, beans, meat and salad.

His family of five children (three mechanics and two exchange students in Australia) lived in a house on top of a mountain.

At that moment I was able to notice the influence of Brazilian football around the world, as two of their children were named in honor of players who had a remarkable time with the national team, Bebeto and Branco. Everyone in the house is fanatical about the team and remembers Brazil’s complete line-up in the 1994 World Cup, the year of the four (with Bebeto and Branco).

I observed family behaviors, in which older people are greeted with a gesture asking for a blessing. Meals are eaten with everyone gathered at the table. And when I say everyone, I mean it’s a lot of people. Here, godchildren, cousins ​​and the like are considered close relatives and share the same roof. It is not common to see only parents and children living together in a residence.

That said, it was no surprise to be invited to participate in the graduation celebration of one of Hugo’s nephews. The celebration was held on the same night in question, and I can say that I felt at home at that moment.

The room was in front of the beach, and brought together around a hundred people, all part of the family, with plenty of food and, oddly enough, a lot of Brazilian music. The happy people, the tropical climate and the beautiful beaches made me feel like I was in Brazil.

I can’t deny that living here could be very interesting. We don’t just share the same language, we also share something characteristic that I still don’t know how to describe, but we know what it is.
Long live Timor and the resistance struggle of its people.

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