Suai Media Space » Pedro Lebre

Timor Timor Meu Berco de Inocente

jen — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:06:45 +0000

I met Pedro in February 2006, many other Australians have known him for decades. This is one of the poems he gave me to publish. Simply called Portuguese Poem. We are waiting for a volunteer to translate it.

Mais que a forca humana
Clamaste
Contra o gigantesco
Triufaste
De rosario e cruz
Venceste
Alicerce de Ukun Rasik An
Fundaste
Pela justica, direito e Democracia

Depertaste

Timor meu berco de incocente
Perdido na imensidao do mundo
Hoje uma Nacao Independente
A vitoria da Santa Cruz assinalado …

Rompido piela amanhecer da liberdade
Isolado piela luta a resistencia
Venceu Pois a verdade
Vitoria a Independencia
Rejeita o gigantesco agressor
Jura prometendo … Patria ou morte
O heroico FALINTIL sem idor
Venceu as certo … o forte …

Herois … insepultados saudoses
Tombados por guerre esforcada
Por vos a vitoria alcancada vitoria
A Bandeira RDTL asteada.

Por Pedro Lebre
Sacadura written in Portuguese
2003

Pedro Lebre – Autobiography

jen — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:16:09 +0000

A summary autobiography – written for sms by Pedro Lebre June 2005
On the 25th, April 1974 a coup took place in Portugal.
I was in Australia when the coup in Portugal happened. I left Timor in March 1974, and that happened a month later. I was glad because I could return to my country.
I had to leave my country because of the Portuguese intels’ suspicions about me over of the relationship with foreigners, mainly australians, with whom I worked.
Also because I come from Uatucarbau, the place where the revolt of 1959 took place against the Portuguese.

I returned to Timor in December 1974. The Portuguese intels were gone, and colonial rule was over, but local political manoevring created new problems in the early days of freedom to Timor. I was non-political but did what I could to help the situation.

In August 1975, the civil war broke out, and I worked for the International Committee of Red Cross, ICRC, and Australian Red Cross for humanitarain Aid as a volunteer.
At the same time, I was helping with interpretation for Aid organisations and journalists from Australia. Among them was Jill Jollife, who was in Dili at this time, and those who were killed in Balibo by Indonesian military.

In the early days after the Indonesian invasion I was working again as volunteer for Indonesian Red Cross for 6 months and later as a public servant.

When the Indonesian government decided to open East Timor for foreigners under the the mandate of former governor Mario Carasacalao in 1989, I planned to take part in the tourism development program. I had involved myself in tourism since 1967, in Hotel Baucau and moved to Dili in 1969 under a scholarship from Kensington Rotary Club from Sydney. Many politicians knew that . Vila Harmonia was just a residence before that, and I applied to set it up into accomodation with six rooms and I was successful. The Indonesian reason for opening up East Timor at this time was based on development and tourism

Jen: How I met Pedro Lebre

I met Pedro Lebre when I stayed at the famous Villa Harmonia in Dili on my way to Suai with Lee Kirk in 2003. You couldn’t find a friendlier place, Pedro and his family run it and look after everyone with great warmth. We celebrated Lee’s 30th birthday there and Pedro wrote a short history about himself and gave me the poems I have posted.

Villa Harmonia was home to many many activists who dared to visit East Timor during the Indonesian occupation and as you will read, he must have played host to the famous Balibo five. The group was made up of two Australians, reporter Greg Shackleton, 27, and sound recordist Tony Stewart, 21, and a New Zealander, cameraman Gary Cunningham, 27, for HSV-7 in Melbourne, and two British cameramen Brian Peters, 29, and reporter Malcolm Rennie, 28, working for TCN-9 in Sydney.

At the time of writing an official enquiry into the circumstance of their deaths has found, what many people working in solidarity with East Timor have known for over thirty years, that there was a massive cover up because the journalists were killed in cold blood to prevent them telling the world what was going on.

Shirley Shackleton, widow of Greg Shackleton is a resident of Pt Phillip and her story can be found in ‘Timor Ponies of Pt Phillip.’ Stories of persistence and solidarity from people well known to Pedro.

Two by Pedro Lebre

jen — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:03:42 +0000

Two poems by Pedro Lebre are being posted on the 32nd Anniversary of 28 November, 1975 when the Democratic Republic of East-Timor was proclaimed. East Timor was colonised by Portugal since the 16th century, and was known as Portuguese Timor until Portugal’s decolonisation of the country. In late 1975 East Timor declared its independence but was invaded and occupied by Indonesia later that year, and declared that country’s 27th province the following year. Poetry

Tersu ho Kruz Hasou Funu Baluk – 12 Novembru

jen — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:43:53 +0000

written by Pedro Lebre – Villa Harmonia, Dili.

Pedro gave me this poem also for sms on June 14, 2003 (only available in Tetun we are waiting on a volunteer to translate it.)

Tersu iha liman
Kruz iha kakorok
Ema lubun boot
Tuir dala Santa Kruz

Libur, belu rai seluk
Ba… haklake… halerik… harophan
Ba Nai iha leten ba. .. matebian .. umaulun
Timor terus… Timor mate

Teki-tekir tarutu
Iha rate Santa Kruz

Oho ema lubun boot
Monu ba rai ,,ran suli

Raan manas, loriku asuwain
Brani mate, hasoru kroat
Hodi tersu no kruz
Mate haleu Santa kruz

Tan sa?
Tan sa funubaluk?
O oho hau.. o hanehan hau?
Fila ba o rain…
Husik hau rain..

Ho kroat o funu hau
Hau ema ran nakfakar
Hau rai mutuk bu ahikudesa

Ho lia los hau funu o
ho tersu no kruz
O nakfila ba o rain
Sasin ba mundu
Timor Loro Sae hari
Nia moris mesak moris kmanek.