Centuries of colonial rule and a genocidal occupation finally ended for East Timor on this day in 2002, becoming the first new sovereign state of the 21st century. Independence was won through the heroic resistance led by socialist revolutionary guerrillas and international pressure.
Portugal colonized East Timor in the 16th century, while the Dutch colonized the western part, which later became Indonesia. Portugal abandoned their colony in 1974.
The Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) declared independence in 1975, leading to an Indonesian invasion to prevent a communist state, causing the death of up to 20% of the population.
FRETILIN's guerrilla wing fought relentlessly, inspired by Mao Zedong, Amilcar Cabral, and Cuba's anti-imperialist resistance. In 1998, a popular uprising in Indonesia forced dictator Suharto to resign. This paved the way for a UN referendum, resulting in a majority voting for independence.
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Portugal colonized East Timor in the 16th century, while the Dutch colonized the western part, which later became Indonesia. Portugal abandoned their colony in 1974.
The Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) declared independence in 1975, leading to an Indonesian invasion to prevent a communist state, causing the death of up to 20% of the population.
FRETILIN's guerrilla wing fought relentlessly, inspired by Mao Zedong, Amilcar Cabral, and Cuba's anti-imperialist resistance. In 1998, a popular uprising in Indonesia forced dictator Suharto to resign. This paved the way for a UN referendum, resulting in a majority voting for independence.
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Uruguayans held a “silent march” yesterday to remember the victims of the US-backed dictatorship.
The military junta ruled from 1973-1985, but the authoritarian period began in 1968. For a country of just 3 million people, hundreds of thousands were exiled, over 200 were executed, and 197 disappeared.
As one of the Cold War era dictatorships, the junta had the full support of the US government and coordinated with the other military juntas in the region to capture each other's dissidents across borders.
Henry Kissinger had even helped rig the elections before the 1973 coup to ensure that the left-wing “Broad Front” party wouldn't be able to win.
Those responsible for human rights abuses were protected by an amnesty law up until 2011 when leftist President Pepe Mujica eliminated it.
Mujica was one of the hundreds who were imprisoned and tortured during this period due to his membership of the “Tupamaros” socialist guerilla movement that resisted the military regime.
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The military junta ruled from 1973-1985, but the authoritarian period began in 1968. For a country of just 3 million people, hundreds of thousands were exiled, over 200 were executed, and 197 disappeared.
As one of the Cold War era dictatorships, the junta had the full support of the US government and coordinated with the other military juntas in the region to capture each other's dissidents across borders.
Henry Kissinger had even helped rig the elections before the 1973 coup to ensure that the left-wing “Broad Front” party wouldn't be able to win.
Those responsible for human rights abuses were protected by an amnesty law up until 2011 when leftist President Pepe Mujica eliminated it.
Mujica was one of the hundreds who were imprisoned and tortured during this period due to his membership of the “Tupamaros” socialist guerilla movement that resisted the military regime.
🟡 Join @theredstream
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