Suai Media Space

Kumu liman la’os odio
Tuba nafatin hodi hetan liberdade
Hasai kiak husi terus hasai mate husi moris
Iha leten hare tun oin kiak kumu liman

hamutuk kaer metin dame iha ita let.
aat ruma ita iha tau tia ba fofa
soran no hafahe ida ne’e sira nian
unidade no dame lisan furak ita nian

ema nurak nakdedar manu kawak mai tanis
Tula dikur ba malu sa’e mutu kuda ida
Nakmehek buka hae tan kabun namkoron
Rai talin atu kotu kesi tia halo metin

Liurai iha reino, ema bo’ot iha atan
Busa oan kabun mamuk rai timor nakdoko
Buka dalan atu liu asu fuik mai satan
Ita lolok tuir malu kesi metin korente.

Liman rasan: Sancho Chamot Alves Nahac
Dili 14th May, 2007

I haven’t met Chamot (full name Liman rasan Sancho Chamot Alves Nahac). However, I have met his family and heard a lot about him. Today he has contributed twelve poems all written in 2007 and 2008. The vast majority of them in September -October 2007. I’m waiting for him to write a little about himself and tell us what inspired such a fast outpouring of poetry in that short time.
I know Chamot lived in Camenasa near Suai and that is where his mother and many other family members live, still. His mother is a wonderful weaver as are his sister and other women in the family.
I have allocated a separate post to each poem so friends can translate them or comment on them.

In his book ‘The Double Reds of Timor’ Archie Campbell (Australian soldier WW2 in East Timor) describes how on 16th December 1941, the bugle sounded action stations. The ‘Sparrow Force’ (2/2nd Independent Company) rushed ashore with bayonets fixed wondering why they were invading East Timor. more..Archie Campbell’s story.

We saddled up with loaded packs

and rowed towards the shore,

To make history at that landing

and be remembered evermore.
We raced ashore with bayonets fixed

and charged the aerodrome,

While our thoughts went back to childhood days

and those we left at home,

And of how Australia’s name was won

upon the land and sea,

Sure Dili ‘drome must take its place

Beside Gallipoli!

There’s not a man be he young or old

will wish me to repeat,

Just how we took the Dili drome

and Dili street by street;

I’d rather leave those tales untold,

for other tongues to tell,

And all I’ll say when I write home is,

“Folks I’m safe and well.”

We’ve upheld Australia’s honour Mum,

and England shall be free,

Thank God we’ve got a Navy

and the Second AIC”.

The first ‘Company’ of the Australian army to enter Timor in WW2 were known as ‘The Double Reds’ and ‘Sparrow Force’. When one of the members of ‘Sparrow Force’ – Archie Campbell, wrote his memoirs he titled the book ‘The Double Reds of Timor’. This is a poem someone in the Sparrow force wrote and titled Pinocchio – Hymn To The Dead that was published in ‘The Double Reds of Timor’.

Stand to your glasses steady,
This world is a world of lies,
Here’s a toast to the dead already,
And here’s to the next man to die.

Pinocchio was the nickname of one of the Double Reds who was the first to die, on the 20th February 1942.

Pinocchio is the title of an English moral tale about truth telling, whose chief character carries the same name. Pinnochio has a long nose that grows every time he tells a lie.

Lee sent me this poem ‘Silence’ by Nola Gregory by email today. I asked her where she got it. Then I noticed an email from our mutual friend Ergilio Vicente asking me to go to his Zorpia site where he had posted a photo of himself and this poem. I think he relates to it very strongly. I am hoping a Timorese friend will translate this into Tetun for us? Perhaps Gil will. I will ask him. Jen Read the rest of this entry »

Coloured Pencil Drawing on Paper (2000)

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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

written by Pedro Lebre – Villa Harmonia – Dili Timor Loro Sae (only available in Tetun)

Pedro gave me this copy of his poem while I was staying at Villa Harmonia, June 14, 2003. Villa Harmonia was home to many Australians and other activists during the Indonesian occupation. We hope to hear from some of you. Read the rest of this entry »