Remember East Timor; Hadomi Timor rebuild East Timor Accession Number: ART91195

Description

'Hadomi East Timor; Rebuild East Timor!' expresses the artists concern that the people of East Timor regain full independence from Indonesia and improved civil conditions and called on Australians to remember East Timor.

It features two East Timorese children in traditional dress and weaving by a senior Timorese woman then a member of the Timorese diaspora in Darwin. The image was originally created by the artists in 1995 for the 20th Anniversary of the 1975 invasion of Timor Loro Sae by the Indonesian Army. Made into t-shirts and a Christmas Card it was sold to raise funds for medical supplies to the resistance in Timor Loro Sae.

In 1999 a group of women from Timor Loro Sae, refugees based in Darwin after the collapse of order following the independence vote, formed HAFETI- a women's peace and independence group. The artists created this poster adapting the slogan slightly to raise funds for HAFETI who were working to support reconstruction in East Timor.

Australia had significant involvement in Peacekeeping in East Timor in 2000, leading the International Force for East Timor, and the Australian War Memorial appointed two official war artists to Timor the same year. The public response to this issue in Australia has been significant and controversial. This poster is one of a number produced to increase public awareness for the view arguably held by many Australians that the East Timorese people should be given assistance by Australia.

The poster was a finalist in the 11th Festival d'affiches de Chaumont 'L'engagement politique et social' in France in May 2000 and was awarded the 25th annual Shell Fremantle Print Award (2000). The award judges noted in the exhibition catalogue: 'The poster raises awareness of a current major political issue, but more importantly, reminds us that it is human beings, particularly children, that must face the full impact of war or disaster. It is a vital and compelling image, evoking an automatic response of humanity in the viewer.'

Contextual Description

"The Hadomi Timor poster story begins in 1995 as a t-shirt and Christmas card for the 20th anniversary of the 1975 invasion of Timor Loro Sae by the Indonesian army. From sales over $800 was raised for medical supplies to the resistance in Timor Loro Sae. It was created in conjunction with members of the East Timorese diaspora living in Darwin. The image called for Australian people to Remember East Timor. In 1998 the artists reworked the image as a print for their exhibition, If you see this exhibition you'll know we have been murdered, which is currently touring regional and remote NT (and has been acquired by the NT Museum). In 1999 a large group of women from Timor Loro Sae, refugees based in Darwin after the collapse of order following the independence vote, formed a group HAFETI - a women's peace and independence group. Therese and Chips reworked the text Remember East Timor to Rebuild East Timor, now calling for the rebuilding or Loro Sae as an independent country. The new edition was created to raise funds for HAFETI, which is still an active participant in the reconstruction of East Timorese Society. The Hadomi poster was a finalist in the 11th Festival d'affiches de Chaumont L'engagement politique et social in France, May 2000, selected from 1384 posters from 41 countries." (Thelma John).

The subject is stated in the text of the poster 'Remember East Timor; Hadomi East Timor; Rebuild East Timor!', referring to the concern on the part of the artist that the people of East Timor regain full independence and improved civil conditions, since the invasion of the Portuguese colony of East Timor by Indonesia in 1975. The recent historical context leading to the re-release of this poster is as follows:

After almost a quarter-century of bloodshed in the territory, a new Indonesian government under President Habibie agreed to allow the East Timorese to vote on their future. A UN operation - the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) - was established to organize and conduct the vote, which was held at the end of August 1999 and resulted in an overwhelming vote in favour of independence. Tragically, once the result had been announced, pro-Indonesian militias, sometimes with the support of elements of the Indonesian security forces, launched a campaign of violence, looting and arson throughout the entire territory. Many East Timorese were killed, and as many as 500,000 were displaced from their homes, about half leaving the territory, in some cases under threat of violence. Eventually, as the violence remained uncontrolled, Indonesia agreed to the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force. Australia, which had contributed police to UNAMET, organized and led the International Force for East Timor (Interfet), a non-UN force operating in accordance with UN resolutions. Interfet, with the role of restoring peace and security, protecting and supporting UNAMET, and facilitating humanitarian assistance operations, began arriving on 12 September 1999. Australia contributed over 5,500 personnel and the force commander, Major General Peter Cosgrove.

With the withdrawal of the Indonesian armed forces, police and administrative officials from East Timor, UNAMET re-established its headquarters in Dili on 28 September. On 19 October 1999, Indonesia formally recognised the result of the referendum. Shortly thereafter, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established as an integrated, multi-dimensional peacekeeping operation, fully responsible for the administration of East Timor during its transition to independence. The hand-over of command of military operations from Interfet to UNTAET was completed on 28 February 2000. Australia has continued to support the UN peacekeeping operation with between 1,500 and 2,000 personnel, as well as landing craft and Black hawk helicopters. Australia remains the largest contributor of personnel to the peacekeeping mission.