Over the next week the Balibó House Trust will hold events in Timor-Leste and Australia to mark the 50-year anniversary of the deaths of the Balibó Five on 16 October 1975 and reflect on how their ongoing legacy has enriched the lives and livelihoods of the Balibó community.
The Balibó House Trust was established soon after Timor-Leste’s independence to commemorate the murder of the Balibó Five by Indonesian special forces and the subsequent murder of Roger East.
Through the anniversary commemorations the Australian community will be reminded of the wider story of Timor-Leste, its long struggle for independence, and Australia’s role in that struggle.
The commemoration of the Balibó Five and the work of the Balibó House Trust goes further, however.
From neglect and persecution under occupation, the community of Balibó is strengthened to be better able to play their part in the still evolving and growing nation of Timor-Leste.
The Trust and its partners work with the community of the Balibó sub-district to help improve their lives through practical measures. Through education, health care, social enterprise, clean water and cultural remembrance, the work of the Trust makes a real difference to the lives of thousands of people in the Balibó community.
This work is a living memorial to the Balibó Five and Roger East and shows that loss can be overcome by building and sharing, that from tragedy can arise positive outcomes.
This work also builds and strengthens community bonds in Australia, between the Trust and its partners and with the many other people the Trust has the privilege of working with.
The Trust’s work is all about people. It ‘builds links, family to family and community to community,’ Trust Chair John Milkins said. ‘It is about sharing what makes us human’.
For further information or media requests please contact the Trust: [email protected]