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My name is Domingas Soares and I live in the Laegatar
village in Suco Lour sub-district, Covalima. I am a
member of the OMT (Timórese Women´s Organisation).
Where I live, most of the women and girls are either
widows or orphans who had been detained by militia members
in 1999. I was also detained by the militia in Suai
and left in KODIM (District Military Command Headquarters)
for more than one week. After this time they brought
us to Atambua. During the night the Laksaur militia
came to our camp and took one woman away who was later
sexually abused. It was the same when we were in KODIM,
Suai. The militia guy took two women for their sexual
satisfaction. After these events the Indonézian
troops paid more attention to the security of refugees.
 Ten
days later we were moved to Betun. The night we arrived
another woman fell victim to the militias´ sexual
abuse. I decided to sleep in the Betun Police compound,
but the situation become worse and people were trying
to find safety anywhere. One night I forced myself to
meet with Cancio and his brother Nemesio, both Mahidi
militia leaders. We stayed in the Mahidi camp for more
than one month. During this time one of my daughter's
married a BRIMOB (mobile brigade) policeman who moved
us from Betun to Atambua. We spent one night in Atambua
before moving to Kupang. After two nights in Kupang
we were moved to the refugee registration point for
three nights, before returning to Dili by ship.
When we returned to Dili we found some relatives from
Zumalae who said that many people from Zumalae had died,
especially from Lour village. In our group there was a
total of 13 victims: 3 from Fatuleu, 5 from Zulo and 5
from Lour.
Women have fought for the liberation of East Timor since
1975, which I think is recognised. We have always contributed
to the nation but we have not enjoyed anything from this
contribution. To survive women often go into small business.
To contribute to the future development of this nation
women must work. We cannot sit by and do nothing. All
of us must be working together to maintain and develop
our culture.
Finally, I would like to ask our leaders that if you
want to help us, then increase the education level of
our children, as we do not have the capacity to do it
independently. If you have the goodness to help, then
please help us to educate our young people.
October, 2001
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