Timor's balancing act: Past wounds and future ties with Indonesia's new leader
East Timor grapples with its painful past as Indonesia elects Prabowo Subianto‚ a figure linked to past atrocities. Timorese leaders pursue reconciliation‚ weighing geopolitical realities against historical grievances in shaping future relations
East Timor finds itself in a tricky situation as Prabowo Subianto prepares to take office as Indonesias president. The 73-year-old former special forces commander has a dark history tied to East Timors brutal occupation by Indonesia which ended about 25 years ago.
Antonio Soares an 82-year-old survivor‚ recalls a horrific massacre in Kraras village roughly 41 years ago. Indonesian soldiers burned homes‚ rounded up villagers and executed many. Soares escaped by lying still under fallen bodies.
I only survived because the people behind me were shot first‚ and the weight of their falling bodies flattened me to the ground
The Chega commission estimates 141 people died at the river‚ with 111 more killed or vanished in later reprisals. Some testimonies link Prabowo to these events.
Despite this painful past‚ East Timors leaders have chosen a path of reconciliation. At a recent meeting‚ Jose Ramos-Horta East Timors president‚ dined cordially with Prabowo – a scene that mightve seemed impossible years ago.
This approach stems from cold political calculus. East Timor (population: 1.3 million) shares its only land border with Indonesia (population: 275.5 million). In 2022‚ over a quarter of East Timors imports came from its giant neighbor.
Some even see potential benefits in Prabowos presidency:
- Improved diplomatic attention
- Possible help locating remains of those killed during occupation
- Economic cooperation
However‚ this reconciliation comes at a cost. Many crimes from the occupation era remain uninvestigated‚ leaving victims without justice. Support for survivors – especially women who experienced sexual violence – is lacking.
East Timors government walks a tightrope‚ balancing geopolitical realities with the need for healing. While some citizens express frustration‚ many respect their leaders decisions. The country also grapples with internal tensions between families seen as pro-Indonesian and those who resisted.
Father Jovito Araujo‚ a former truth commission member‚ emphasizes the importance of forgiveness: “If you step over it‚ you will see new horizons. If you dont‚ you will forever be in the shadow the past“
As East Timor navigates its relationship with Indonesia under Prabowo it must confront a complex mix of pragmatism‚ reconciliation‚ and the lingering pain of its past
