Category: History

New archival document release : Arnold Kohen papers

October 5, 2021

This week’s release of online archival documents from the Timor International Solidarity Archive (TiSA) represents thousands of pages of publications, news clippings and internal documents from the files of Arnold Kohen, including papers published under the names East Timor Defence Committee, The Humanitarian Project, and others. The materials are organized into three subcollections composed of materials collected by Arnold… More New archival document release : Arnold Kohen papers

The United Nations Response to Indonesia’s Invasion of East Timor (December 1975)

May 12, 2021

By Jordan Sneyd-Dewar This post summarizes materials in the United Nations Archives just posted to the Timor International Solidarity Archive, especially the UN Secretariat’s 1975 file. On November 28, 1975, East Timor declared itself independent from their Portuguese colonial occupiers. The declaration should have been a landmark moment for a people that had finally gained… More The United Nations Response to Indonesia’s Invasion of East Timor (December 1975)

Policy brief: Canada–Indonesia relations, past and present

February 16, 2021

Canada is negotiating freer trade (a comprehensive economic economic partnership agreement) with Indonesia. It’s worth looking back at the history to see that trade alone is not enough. Here’s a policy brief making that point, originally published in 2019. By David Webster Original Publication: International Journal 2019, Vol. 74(3) 472–479 Abstract Canada–Indonesia relations recently passed their… More Policy brief: Canada–Indonesia relations, past and present

first page of Miriam Young's report

Activist travels to occupied East Timor, 1989-99

July 20, 2020

By Olivia Hewitt Between 1975 and 1989 the world was barred from entering East Timor. On more than one occasion the international community would catch a horrific glimpse into the situation unfolding in the region between the East Timorese and Indonesian military forces. Indonesian authorities opened the territory to visitors for the first time since… More Activist travels to occupied East Timor, 1989-99

Challenges of reconciliation: lessons learned from Timor-Leste – summary of presentations

December 12, 2019

“Challenges of reconciliation: lessons learned from Timor-Leste” was a workshop held in October 2019 at Bishop’s University. The most recent post summarized the presentations of Father Jovito Araújo and Hugo Fernandes. This post summarizes the research shared by Amy Rothschild (Ithaca College, USA), Lia Kent (Australian National University), Hannah Loney (The University of Melbourne, Australia),… More Challenges of reconciliation: lessons learned from Timor-Leste – summary of presentations

Canada’s East Timor advocacy 20 years ago paves the way for leadership today

September 7, 2019

Can Canada make a difference in international affairs? Can middle powers matter when a global crisis hits? The story of the East Timor independence referendum, held 20 years ago this Aug. 30, says yes. Canadian documents tell the story of Canadian actions during the 1999 referendum. Two decades on, they show that bold and sustained… More Canada’s East Timor advocacy 20 years ago paves the way for leadership today

West Papua: Seeing no evil

September 4, 2019

Maire Leadbeater on the Current crisis in West Papua and her new book See No Evil: New Zealand’s Betrayal of the People of West Papua (Otago University Press, 2018) On August 17, Indonesia’s national day, West Papuan students studying in Surabaya and Malang, East Java were subjected to a terrifying ordeal. Security forces and militia… More West Papua: Seeing no evil