[The following is an excerpt from a letter written to Resistance by Xanana Gusmao, jailed leader of the National Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM) in 1995].
I am honoured and proud for the Maubere people to receive your letter. Proud because after twenty years of experienceing difficulties in facing the Jakarta regime, today I as leader of the resistance of the Maubere people have come into contact with you, a youth group which is very progressive and active and has a high concern about imperialism, the environment and human rights, and more especially of course the right to self-determination for the Maubere people.
Youth are the rebels against the status quo, it is the youth that bring change. This is often noted by history for example in South Korea, China, Vietnam and other places. And in Indonesia too in 1966, although in that case it was also manipulated from above by the military.
Marching together with CNRM in carrying out actions with a political resonance gives hope to the Maubere people and to the pro- democracy movement in Indonesia that the attitude of the Australian authorities will change. All this time they have been collaborating with the New Order regime to oppress the Indonesian people and the Maubere people. Using the excuse of being good neighbours and wanting prosperity for the Australian people, the Australian authorities often ignore human rights in the cause of their profit-motivated policies. We know that the attitude of the Australian authorities does not reflect the attitudes of the Australian people.
I am sure Resistance together with other groups will struggle to their maximum to change these attitudes of the Australian government.
I also agree that the formation of a democratic political climate in Indonesia will have a positive impact for the liberation of the Maubere people. Because of this CNRM will always be in solidarity with Resistance to coordinate any demonstrations or other activities in support of democratisation in Indonesia and liberation for the Maubere people.
My honoured comrades in Resistance, the Maubere youth will always be in solidarity with you. It is the Maubere youth who are the frequent targets of assassinations by the Indonesian military. The massacres at Santa Cruz and at Liquica are evidence of this. The Maubere youth are the future of a free Timor and for that future they have laid down their lives and are still prepared to lay down their lives. While the Indonesian military remain in Timor, the Maubere people will continue to die and be massacred but they know that their homeland demands this of them.
Before ending our discussion here on behalf of myself and in the name of the Maubere people I pass on my solidarity and my warm greetings to you and all those in Resistance.
Xanana Gusmao
Cipinang Prison, Jakarta.