With this picture of Timor, I offer my words to our leaders. This end of the island, clutched in a hand, it is not even a handful. Many of our people have suffered for this land. The dead, the wounded, they cannot be counted. Some have their bodies strewn randomly over the land because of this end of the island. Women have been raped and then killed. What will become of Timor? Death on the land, blood spilling down to the sea, to the fish and crocodiles. Some ran away, abandoning wives and children. Some ran away, fathers separated, mothers separated children separated. They did not know where they were heading, saying "Viva Timor Lorosa'e". Poor things, they died like wild animals. And now, today Timor is truly independent. I really don't know what we will do for East Timor. Mariano da Cruz

Introduction   ·    Sections:  1  ·   2  ·   3  ·   4  ·   5  ·   6