John Pilger (1939-2023): uncovering the Timor Conspiracy

Source: The Guardian/Carlton Television John Pilger, the Australian journalist and documentary film-maker died on 30 December 2023 (see here: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/31/john-pilger-campaigning-journalist-dies-aged-84). He was born in Bondi, New South Wales but relocated to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. He worked as an investigative journalist for several British, US and Australian media outlets. He covered conflicts in …

Teachers call for strengthened teaching of the history of Timor-Leste

On the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence, whose celebrations were held under the motto 'Celebrating History, Building the Future', news agency TATOLI conducted interviews with several teachers on the teaching of history in Timor-Leste (see here: https://pt.tatoli.tl/2023/11/28/professores-apelam-ao-reforco-do-ensino-da-historia-de-timor-leste/). A common theme that emerged from their replies was the idea that teaching …

CNC promotes knowledge of history among Basic Education teachers

Centro Nacional Chega! (CNC) has presented a handbook for the teaching of history at a meeting with teachers from several municipalities on May 30 (see here: https://tatoli.tl/2023/05/31/cnc-aprezenta-manual-dixiplina-istoria-ba-manorin-sira/ and here: https://independente.tl/nasionali/cnc-eleva-konesimentu-manorin-ba-materia-istoria-nian). The initiative was supported by the Ministry for Education, Youth and Sports, the National Institute for the Training of Teachers and Education Professionals (INFORDEPE) and …

CNC awarded prize for peace and reconciliation

On April, 26 in Bilbau, Spain, Centro Nacional Chega! was awarded the ‘Prize for Peace and Reconciliation Gernika 2023’ for the work carried out by Comissão de Acolhimento, Verdade e Reconciliação de Timor-Leste (CAVR) between 2001-2005 to produce its Chega! report (see here: https://tatoli.tl/2023/04/24/timor-leste-sei-simu-premiu-pas-no-rekonsiliasaun-iha-espana/ and here: https://www.gernikagogoratuz.org/event/xxxiii-jornadas-internacionales-cultura-paz-gernika/ ) The prize is awarded by the Municipality …

CNC provides training in history to teachers

Centro Nacional Chega! has an ongoing programme to provide training in history to teachers who have the responsibility to teach the subject in schools. According to CNC, their grounding in history is inadequate (see here: https://tatoli.tl/2023/03/29/cnc-fo-formasaun-ba-manorin-kaer-dixiplina-istoria/ ). Hugo Fernandes, CNC’s Executive Director, thinks that teachers have to be creative and should not limit themselves to …

PR donates books at opening of Timor-Leste Catholic University’s library

At a ceremony marking the opening of the library of Timor-Leste’s Catholic University (UCT), José Ramos-Horta donated 3,400 books that were previously stored in the Presidential Palace’s own library (see here: https://tatoli.tl/2023/03/15/horta-entrega-livru-rihun-3-resin-ba-uct/ ). Books include English- and Portuguese-language fiction as well as works on topics such as international relations. According to the President, the donation …

Two recent publications on Timor-Leste’s contemporary history

Two publications were recently announced that are relevant for Timor-Leste’s contemporary history: a biography of a former guerrilla commander and a doctoral thesis on a farmers’ movement in Ermera. (Source: Google Books) The book – A Luta Continua (The Struggle Goes On)! The Life of Ernest Fernandes Dudu: From FALINTIL Freedom Fighter to the Parliament …

Born of Fire and Ash: Australian involvement in East Timor, 1999-2000

(Source: https://unsw.press/books/born-of-fire-and-ash/ ) The first volume da Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor has just bee published. It is dedicated to Australia’s involvement in East Timor in 1999-2000 (see here: https://unsw.press/books/born-of-fire-and-ash/ ). It is authored by Craig Stockings, official historian for Australian operations in the aforementioned countries (see here: https://unsw.press/authors/craig-stockings/ …

CO25’s conference on the history of the Resistance

(Source: CO25) On 20 and 21 December, Comité Orientador 25 (CO25) held another national conference on the theme  ‘Contributions to the writing of the history of the National Resistance in Timor-Leste between 1976-1980’. The conference took place in the lecture hall of F-FDTL’s headquarters in Fatuhada, Dili (see here: https://www.facebook.com/comiteorintador25/ ). Constâncio Pinto ‘Terus’, Chairman …

CNC and PUSDEMA coordinate joint research programme between Timor-Leste and Indonesia

Centro Nacional Chega! and the Centre for the Study of Democracy and Human Rights (Pusat Kajian Demokrasi dan Hak-Hak Asasi Manusia, PUSDEMA) met recently at Universitas Sanata Dharma (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) to coordinate their activities and to establish a joint research programme between Timor-Leste and Indonesia (see here: https://chega.tl/cnc-pusdema-halo-enkontru-koordenasaun-ba-programa-peskiza-konjunta-entre-tl-ri/). The aim of the two institutions is …