Hosi: Quintiliano Mok*
Today, 20 June 2025, we commemorate the 37th anniversary of RENETIL: Resistência Nacional dos Estudantes de Timor-Leste; a historic milestone that invites us not only to remember the past, but also to reflect deeply on its meaning, assess the present with honesty, and shape a renewed direction for future struggles.
The Past: A Legacy of Courage and Conviction
In 1988, amid the brutal Indonesian military occupation, a group of Timorese students studying in Indonesia chose to act. From exile, they gave birth to a bold and well-organized civil resistance movement: RENETIL. This movement did not rely on weapons. It championed intelligence, strategy, and solidarity. RENETIL forged alliances with Indonesia’s pro-democracy movement and sparked international solidarity with the Timorese cause. It became a vital bridge between the armed resistance of FALINTIL in the mountains and the diplomatic efforts for independence abroad. One of RENETIL’s central figures was the late Fernando de Araújo, affectionately known as Maun La-Sama. He was not only a leader, but a moral symbol of integrity. His famous words: “My dignity is no greater than the dignity of my people,” continue to remind us that true leadership means placing the people above personal ambition. Values such as humility, moral courage, and commitment to national dignity must remain the guiding compass for Timor-Leste’s youth today.
The Present: Between Memory and an Unfinished Mission
Thirty-seven years after RENETIL’s founding, Timor-Leste is now independent. Yet the ideals once fought for; social justice, participatory democracy, and clean governance; remain distant from the daily lives of many Timorese. Many former activists now hold positions of power. While some remain faithful to the spirit of the struggle, others have drifted into arrogance and have grown distant from the people they once vowed to serve. In this context, the reflection of Indonesian thinker Rocky Gerung is especially relevant: “An arrogant state becomes a poor state.” This statement speaks not only of rigid power structures, but also of moral and social decline ; when those in power lose the humility to listen to the people. State arrogance is a form of ethical blindness. Power used solely to preserve itself ; rather than to serve; leads a nation into poverty, not only economically, but also in terms of values, trust, and collective hope. We must ask: Is this state still humble enough to listen to its people? Do today’s leaders still carry the spirit of La-Sama, or have they become lost in false pride and empty formalities?
The Future: Rekindling a Meaningful Resistance
Today’s struggle takes on a different form. It is no longer about armed resistance, but about narratives, participation, and structural justice. Young people must reclaim public space ; through critical thinking, strong organization, and a conscience that burns brightly. When ancestral lands, culture, and the environment are threatened by mining exploitation; When education and healthcare remain inadequate; When agriculture and ecotourism are neglected; When the voices of ordinary citizens go unheard and power serves only the elite ; Then the spirit of RENETIL must rise again. Not as a formal institution, but as a living spirit of resistance ; a moral and political awareness that defends life, the land, and our shared dignity.
A Message to RENETIL and the New Generation of Timor
As we reflect on 37 years of RENETIL, let us also honor those who stood with the people of Timor-Leste; not only on the battlefield, but also in the realms of intellect, diplomacy, and humanity. One such figure is the late Professor António Barbedo de Magalhães ; not merely an academic or activist, but a true educator, a moral warrior, and a loyal friend to the Timorese people. Through his letters to Xanana Gusmão during his imprisonment, Barbedo showed that true solidarity transcends national boundaries. He proved that the struggle for independence and justice must be grounded in deep thinking and unshakable human commitment.
From Barbedo, we learn:
•That injustice must be fought not only through protest, but through knowledge and cross-border solidarity.
•That the voice of the people must be heard not only in the streets, but also in global forums ; through writing, diplomacy, and open dialogue.
•That history must be written not only with blood and tears, but with clear minds and courageous hearts.
Barbedo taught us that moral strength is greater than any weapon, and that the role of intellectuals is to bridge values with policy; between the people’s dreams and political reality.
May the spirit of Professor Barbedo continue to live in the hearts of the Timorese people; a light guiding us in this ongoing struggle for justice, dignity, and humanity.
Conclusion
Between the Arrogance of Power and the Dignity of a Nation The commemoration of 20 June must not become mere nostalgia. It must serve as a mirror for the present and a flame to light the path forward. We must not allow RENETIL’s spirit to die in ceremony. We must not let La-Sama’s words lose their meaning amid the noise of political games that seek to silence critical voices. RENETIL lives on. As long as injustice exists, resistance must continue. And as long as there are young people who dare to reject the arrogance of power, hope will always find its way. May the motto and spirit of RENETIL continue to grow and take root in every generation of Timorese intellectuals; for a nation that is truly just, free, and dignified for all its people.
*Former RENETIL Representative for the Asia Pacific in Australia
