Mass grave found in Timor during excavation for hotel
Updated
Since East Timor became a sovereign state in 2002, Dili has been actively engaging Jakarta on the diplomatic front, despite its painful history. Now, the construction of a new luxury hotel and golf course has turned up unpleasant reminders of East Timor's past... as excavations have led to the discovery of a mass grave.
Presenter: Sara Everingham
Speakers:Jon Sterenberg Australian archaeologist; Pat Walsh, helped establish East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation; Gregorio Saldhana from the 12th of November Committee which is searching for the remains of those killed in the massacre at the Santa Cruz Cemetery in East Timor in 1991
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SARA EVERINGHAM: It's prime real estate in Dili. In the west of the capital at the beachfront location a five-star hotel will soon be built. It's a sign of the young country's future prospects, but it's also turned up a reminder of its painful past.
JON STERENBERG: Two fairly small graves, seven individuals in one and two in another.
SARA EVERINGHAM: Jon Sterenberg is one of the Australian archaeologists working with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the East Timorese Government searching the site for the remains of people killed during the Indonesian occupation. It's painstaking work and the exhumation is just one part the process.
JON STERENBERG: The remains will be very carefully washed because they're very, very fragile; they've been under the water for a long time. Artefacts such as ballistics, ligatures, identification documents if they exist, they'll be carefully collected.
SARA EVERINGHAM: Researchers say many East Timorese will be watching closely to see what they find.
Pat Walsh helped establish East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation.
PAT WALSH: We know from the International Red Cross that somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 families are looking for missing or disappeared.
SARA EVERINGHAM: It's estimated more than 100,000 civilians died during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. The site slated for the hotel is just one of the many construction sites now around Dili and as East Timor continues to develop it's likely more grave sites will be found.
Pat Walsh says uncovering East Timor's past will help build a peaceful future.
PAT WALSH: That will contribute to community development and peace here, I'm sure. People remain deeply upset about these issues.
SARA EVERINGHAM: Gregorio Saldanha will liaise with families to help identify the remains. He's the coordinator of the 12th of November Committee, which is searching for the remains of those killed in the massacre at the Santa Cruz Cemetery in East Timor in 1991.
GREGORIO SALDANHA: I think it's very important for all Timorese we don't forget that these deaths is the result of all people who gave their life to found this state.
SARA EVERINGHAM: Mr Saldanha says many East Timorese families hope to rebury the remains of their loved ones.
GREGORIO SALDANHA: To give our recognition, our respect, dignify them, it's very important; not today but for the future.
