Timor Oan ho Forsa Australianu iha II Guerra Mundial

Peskizador Fundasaun Mahein (FM), Joao Almeida Fernandes

Domingos Soares (93) moris iha Viqueque 01 Janeiru 1919, hela iha Suku Uatudere, Sub-distritu Viqueque no Distritu Viqueque. Soares hanesan Timor oan ida ne’ebé hamutuk ho forsa Australianu sira funu hasoru forsa Japonese durante II Guerra Mundial.

Iha artigu badak ida ne’e, hanesan apresiasaun Fundasaun Mahein (FM) nian ba governu Australia liu husi nia Embaxada iha Dili Timor-Leste ne’ebé iha loron 23 Fevereiru 2012 halo ona sorumutu kiik ida ho Sr. Domingos Soares iha nia hela fatin Adarai, Suku Uatudere, Subdistritu Viqueque, Distritu Viqueque. Nudar prosesu inisiu governu Australia liu husi ninia Embaxada iha Dili ne’ebé delega Sr. Mark Cooper Diplomata Australianu Seksaun Defeza nian atu rona direitamente istoria partisipasaun Soares nudar Criado hodi apoiu forsa Australianu sira durante II Guerra Mundial.

Domingos Soares (Karuk) no Mark Cooper (Los)

FM apresia tamba governu Australia dadaun ne’e komesa rekonese no buka tuir Timor oan sira ne’ebé iha II Guerra Mundial hanesan Criado. Iha prosesu inisiu ida ne’e, Sr. Mark Cooper entrega Simbolu Rekonesementu nudar agradesementu husi forsa Australianu sira ba Sr. Domingos Soares nudar lutador ida no hanesan mos sira nian Superiór ne’ebé kontra makaás invazaun forsa Japonese iha II Guerra Mundial ba teritoriu Timor no Australia.

FM hare katak maske sorumutu simples ida maibe fo sentidu signifikativu ba governu Australia no governu Timor-Leste. Iha loron 17 Fevereiru 2011, Premeiru Ministru Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmao hala’o vizita ba Australia hodi komemora aniversariu tinan hitu nulu Batalla Tasi Timor hanesan onra boot ba prezensa forsa Australianu sira iha Timor, ne’ebé mosu mos iha website the interpreter: Lowy Institute International Policy. FM apresia tebes ba vizita ida ne’e, hanesan momentu refleksaun ida hodi hanoin hikas Timor oan no forsa Australianu sira ne’ebé mate iha tinan hitu nulu liu ba. Inklui Sr. Domingos Soares ne’ebé to’o agora sei moris karik hanesan ema úniku ne’ebé sei moris, dalaruma balu sei moris.

Iha sorumutu ne’ebé liu dadauk lidera husi Sr. Mark Cooper, halo mos vizita ba aviaun ne’ebé iha II Guerra Mundial forsa Australianu sira tiru monu aviaun forsa Japonese nian iha kosta sul, lokaliza iha area Adarai ne’ebé besik mos hela fatin Sr. Domingos Soares. Vizita ne’e mos delegasaun Embaxada Australia ne’ebé lidera husi Sr. Mark Cooper promete katak sei vizita fila fali Sr. Domingos Soares iha semana rua tuir mai maske seidauk iha data fiksu ba vizita tuir mai hodi rona istoria klean liu tan husi Sr. Domingos Soares.

Iha biban seluk, FM hare seremonia funeral Rufino Alves Correia hanesan mos Criado iha II Guerra Mundial hamutuk ho forsa Australianu sira. FM apresia tebes ba rekonesementu ida ne’e hanesan onra boot ida ba kontribuisaun Timor oan nian hamutuk ho forsa Australianu sira iha II Guerra Mundial. Rufino Alves Correia mate iha Abril 2010, iha ninia seremonia funeral partisipa husi Ofisiais Superiór Forsa Defeza Australia, hakoi iha Dili. Iha kaisaun Sr. Rufino Alves Correia falun ho bandeira Australia no parade militar inklui fotografia seremonia funeral mosu iha website Departamentu Defeza Australia.

Iha seremonia funeral Sr. Rufino Alves Correia, FM hare katak onra no rekonesementu ida ne’e hanesan mos onra no rekonesementu sira seluk ba veteranu Australianu sira, ne’ebé fo sentidu hanesan ema militar ida maske momentu neba hanesan Criado. Inklui Sr. Domingos Soares ne’ebé sei moris maske foin hahu prosesu inisiu ida maibe FM hein katak prosesu ida ne’e kontinua nafatin hodi hetan aprovasaun husi Canberra no governu Australia nian sei kontinua nafatin atu buka lutador sira hanesan Sr. Domingos Soares ne’ebé moris hela iha Timor-Leste.

Forsa Defeza Australia Komponenti Aeru, Reprezentante Xefe Suku Uatudere no Sr. Domingos Soares. Foto: João Almeida Fernandes

Fundasaun Mahein, 28 February 2012

Press Release

An East Timorese son with the Australian forces in World War II

Domingos Soares (93) was born on the 1st of January 1919 in the village of Uatudere in the district of Viqueque. As a young Timorese, Mr. Soares sided with the Australians and fought against the Japanese forces during World War II.

This short article is very much an opportunity for Fundasaun Mahein (FM) to show its appreciation to the Australian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste, which on 23 February 2012 held a close meeting with Mr. Soares at his residence, in Adarai, in the district of Viqueque. Initiated by the Australian government, a diplomat at the Australian Embassy, named Mark Cooper who works at the Defence section, was directly sent to hear the story of Mr. Soares who worked as a Criado (a footman) for the Australian forces in Timor-Leste during World War II.

FM appreciates Australia’s effort to recognize the support of the East Timorese and the effort Australia has shown to search for any remaining East Timorese who worked as Criado’s during World War II. In the meeting with Mr. Soares the Australian delegation, through Mr. Cooper, gave Mr. Soares a symbol of recognition as a gift of appreciation from the Australian forces. The gift by the Australian delegation was also a symbol of recognition of Mr. Domingos as their superior combatant who fought very hard against the Japanese invasion of the Timorese territory during World War II.

Although the meeting with Mr. Soares was short, FM is aware that the meeting had a significant meaning for both the Australian and Timor-Leste government. On 17 February 2012 the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste made a visit to Australia to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Timor Sea which is a big honour for the Australian forces serving in Timor-Leste, as indicated in the interpreter: Lowy Institute International Policy. FM really appreciates this visit by the Prime Minister as a moment of reflection on those Timorese and Australians, including Mr. Soares, who fought and died seventy years ago.

In the recent meeting with Mr. Soares, Mr. Cooper also took the opportunity to visit the wreck of a Japanese warplane shot down by the Australian forces on the south coast, within the local area of Adarai where Mr. Soares resides. Additionally, following the meeting with Mr. Soares, the Australian delegation made a promise that another visit will be made within two weeks, although no fixed date was given, in order to follow up on the story of Mr. Soares.

FM is also aware of another example of Australia’s recognition of East Timorese Criado in the funeral of Rufino Alves Correia who died in April 2010. For his contribution as a Criado during World War II Mr. Correia’s funeral was attended by the senior officials of the Australian Defence Force and his coffin was wrapped with an Australian flag. The Military parade and photographs from the funeral can be seen at the Australian Department of Defence.

Again, FM would like to extend our appreciation to the Australian Defence Force for their recognition of the many East Timorese who made big contributions during World War II. FM notes that the Funeral ceremony given to Mr Correia, had the same honour and recognition normally given to Australian war veterans, which means that Mr Correia was recognised as a military person, although he served as a Criado. As was the case with Mr Soares, FM hopes that the Australian government in Canberra will continue the search for any surviving Timorese sons who made big contributions and fought alongside the Australian forces during World War II.