The Chief of Timor-Leste’s Defence Forces (F-FDTL), Lieutenant General Falur Rate-Laek, said that the five (5) journalists known as the Balibo Five made a great sacrifice in defence of press freedom and contributed to Timor-Leste’s struggle for independence.
“Journalists Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Malcolm Rennie, Tony Stewart, and Brian Peters risked their lives to tell the story of Timor-Leste during the occupation, becoming crucial allies in the Timorese people’s struggle.
When the world wanted to render us invisible, they came looking for us in the forests and met with FALINTIL guerrillas,” said Lieutenant General Falur Rate-Laek during a reflection marking the 50th anniversary of the Balibo tragedy.
He added that the five journalists, including other international and national reporters such as Francisco Borja da Costa, Adelino Gomes from RTP Portugal, Kamal Bamadhaj, Max Stahl, Sakamoto, Agus Mulyawan, Muki, Sahe Bernardino Guterres Berekai, and Sander Thoenes, became the international narrators of Timorese resistance during difficult times.
General Falur stated that these journalists were not mere observers, but an essential part of the Timorese people’s diplomatic struggle.
“They were the microphone of our resistance; the world’s eyes on our suffering and our hope,” he emphasised.
General Falur also underlined that the press at that time served as the silent ambassadors of the Timorese people.
“When we had no voice, they spoke for us; when we wanted the world to see us, they became our eyes,” he added.
He recalled that the journalists’ contributions of helping to infiltrate information and mobilise international solidarity were not only acts of journalism but sacred acts of truth-telling.
He said that the historic 30 August 1999 referendum, where 78% of the Timorese people voted for independence, proved that the truth cannot be silenced, and that free journalists played a key role in showing the world the courage of the Timorese people.
At the same event, Secretary for the State Secretariat of Social Communication (SEKOMS) Expedito Dias Ximenes said that Balibo is a historic site of great sacrifice, as the five journalists risked their lives to tell the truth about Timor-Leste.
He explained that at that time, the journalists demonstrated strong spirit and solidarity with a people they hardly knew.
“This isolated village made it extremely difficult for the journalists to send reports from the field back to their newsroom in Australia for broadcast about the reality in Portuguese Timor during the occupation. Their example shows immense professional conscience and commitment to truth,” he stated.
He also highlighted that in the documentary about the Balibo case, the final scene shows journalist Greg Shackleton recording his last ‘stand-up’ report shortly before their deaths.
“Today marks the 50th commemoration of the Balibo case, but the mystery surrounding the exact location of their remains, is still unsolved,” he said.He appealed to all Timorese to pay tribute to the Balibo Five and to show respect for all journalists — Timorese and foreign — who, during the occupation, made great contributions toward transforming Timor-Leste into an independent and sovereign nation.
