Dili, February 19, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The HAK Association collaborated with Japan to spread truth and justice for human rights violations, including violence against Timorese women called Jugun-Lanfu during the Japanese occupation of our beloved country, Timor-Leste.
HAK spokesperson, Marina Galucho, said in a press conference that when the attack on the United States military base Pearl Harbor at that time showed that Japan would invade Timor-Leste and Japan slandered that Timor-Leste supported the ally strength and freed them to build a base in Timor-Leste.
“Japan’s involvement in the second world role on December 7, 1941 when it attacked the United States military base at Pearl Harbor, at that time the prediction of the United States allies showed that Japan would invade Timor-Leste as a strategic plan to attract Australia. Based on this prediction, the United States Allied troops including Australian and Polish troops arrived in Timor-Leste on December 17, 1941. At that time, Timor-Leste was still under the leadership and government of Portugal under Manuel Abreu Fereira de Carvalho who rejected the presence of allied forces. However, Japan used the question of neutrality to slander that Timor-Leste provided support to the Allied Forces to free them to build bases in Timor-Leste, with this reason Japan invaded Timor-Leste on February 20, 1942.” He said
He also emphasized that during the Japanese occupation of Timor-Leste, the people of Timor-Leste were forced to work hard and feed the Japanese soldiers, and the first place Japan started the war was in Dili, they brought 12-year-old children to be gathered in one place to serve them.
“The people of Timor-Leste were forced to work hard to build roads, feed the Japanese troops who numbered almost 12 million people spread across the territory of Timor-Leste. The city of Dili became the first place where Japan started the war in Timor, becoming a witness to the first suffering of the Timorese people, especially our women who had to become victims of a war that they did not even know about. The Japanese army brought young girls to IANJO to serve them or fulfill their sexual needs even though they were still young like still 12 years old and above.” He said.
Based on research conducted by the HAK Association and the Japanese Collegium in 2005, eyewitnesses were in 12 municipalities with a total of 62 people, consisting of 20 victims and 47 eyewitnesses. In order to complete the history of the second world role to pass on history to the next generation so as not to forget and continue to pay homage to the ancestors who have suffered.
“From the results of this research, a book was produced entitled ‘FIGHT FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE’ (the original title in Tetum, ‘LUTA BA LIA LOS NO JUSTISA’). The victims, who numbered 20 people, had the spirit and courage to tell their bitter and dark history. Many victims died and there was no recognition from the Japanese government or Timor-Leste.” He said firmly.
Through this history is shown to the people of Timor-Leste to reflect on what our grandparents have experienced during the world war, the suffering and darkness that has occurred at that time. This history is an archive for us, the people of Timor-Leste to remember what happened in the role of the second world.
In addition, this press conference was held with the theme, “The Past History of the Japanese Army Occupation in Timor-Leste”, acknowledgment of the victims of World War II (Sexual Slavery – Jungu Lafu) February 20, 1942 – August 1945 – February 20, 2025.
Reported by : Nélia no Domingas
Picture by : Domingas