Witness History The Santa Cruz Massacre
Aug 11, 2025
Max Stahl, a British filmmaker known for documenting East Timor's fight for independence, shares gripping insights about the Santa Cruz massacre. He vividly recounts the tragic shooting of unarmed activists by Indonesian troops during a memorial march in 1991. Stahl emphasizes the bravery of those protesting for their freedom and his role in capturing the harrowing event on film. Archive materials and first-hand accounts bring a powerful perspective to this significant chapter in history, shedding light on resilience in the face of brutality.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Peaceful March Provoked Shock
- Young demonstrators revealed T-shirts and marched peacefully past military and government buildings.
- Max Stahl said their calm defiance left Indonesian soldiers aghast and surprised.
Long Occupation And Global Neglect
- Indonesian forces had occupied East Timor for 16 years and brutally suppressed independence calls.
- Marco Silva notes the international community largely ignored their plight, deepening the East Timorese' isolation.
Soldiers Opened Fire At The Cemetery
- Indonesian soldiers suddenly lined up and opened fire point blank into a crowd at Santa Cruz cemetery.
- Many people died instantly and some soldiers and plainclothes men later stabbed wounded people on the ground.