CHILDREN OF THE A film by CROCODILE Marsha Emerman

JULIE DYER AND JULIE DYER EMERMAN MARSHA h ISSUE 29 AUSTRALIAN GUIDE

SCREEN EDUCATION

“Some say we must be Indonesian, some say Portuguese. But we are the children of Grandfather STUDY 1 Crocodile. We are East Timorese.” CIDALIA PIRES, REFUGEE OF 1975 the , a job she finds chal- lenging and stressful. Cidalia chooses to stay in , but she also travels to East to record traditional music HILDREN OF THE CROCODILE and dance. celebrates ’s inde- Cpendence through the story of Children of the Crocodile chronicles the two young Timorese-Australian women. personal journeys of these young women The film explores identity, cross-cultural over a two year period. It’s a universal issues and the struggle to make a differ- story of struggle, commitment, family, and ence in East Timor. the strength of a culture which has given birth to the world’s newest nation. Cidalia Pires and Elizabeth Exposto were babies when their families fled East Timor CURRICULUM LINKS in 1975 and came to Australia. Home movies, photos, and TV footage show Children of the Crocodile is an excellent the families’ escape from East Timor resource for middle to senior secondary and their early life in Australia against the backdrop of events occurring in their homeland.

Through Cidalia and Elizabeth’s voices, their commitment to East Timor unfolds. Viewers discover Cidalia’s passion for music and theatre, Elizabeth’s devotion to and justice, and the strength of their community and culture.

The story of Cidalia and Elizabeth paral- lels key turning points in the - from the Indonesian invasion in 1975, to voting for independence in 1999 and the destruction which followed, and finally to the birth of a new nation.

East Timor’s independence fulfills their lifelong dream, but it also brings difficult choices. Elizabeth decides to move to East Timor and work as a liaison officer for CIDALIA WITH DANCERS IN BAUCAU, EAST TIMOR IN BAUCAU, WITH DANCERS CIDALIA LEFT:

colonial powers in Timor, signed a treaty TURNING POINT 1974-1975 the withdrawal of troops from East Timor dividing the island in half, with the Por- and for East Timorese peoples’ right to tuguese in the east and the Dutch in the Portuguese decolonisation gave rise to self-determination. west ( except for the enclave of new political parties in East Timor. The which the Portuguese retained). two major parties UDT and fa- On December 11, 1989 the Australian voured independence, but infiltration by and Indonesian governments signed the WORLD WAR II 1939 - 1945 Indonesian agents caused UDT to stage to jointly exploit oil in a coup in August 1975. A brief ‘civil war’ the . After the bombing of Pearl Harbour in between UDT and Fretilin ensued and 1942, over 400 allied troops landed in Fretilin’s victory provided a pretext for THE WORLD SEES AND RECOGNISES East Timor under speculation that the ’s subsequent invasion. Japanese would use East Timor as a On 11 November 1991, Indonesian stepping off point for further invasion to On 28 November 1975, Fretilin estab- troops opened fired on people attending the south. lished the Democratic Republic of East a funeral service in ’s Santa Cruz cem- Timor and declared independence. Ac- etery. At least 200 people were killed and The Japanese sent troops to East Timor cusing Fretilin of being ‘communist’ and many more were injured. These events and were held off by Australian forces enlisting tacit support from the USA, Brit- were witnessed by journalists and filmed fighting alongside the Timorese people. ain and Australia, Indonesia proceeded by a British cameraman. The footage was Unable to defeat the Japanese, the Aus- with plans to invade. smuggled out of East Timor and shown tralians withdrew, leaving the Timorese on TV around the world. to bear the consequences. Over 60,000 On 7 December 1975 Indonesian forces Timorese people were killed by the invaded East Timor. Timorese resistance fighter Xanana Gus- Japanese in reprisal for their assistance mao was arrested in 1992 by Indonesian to Australian soldiers. INDONESIAN RULE 1975 - 1999 soldiers in Lahane, Dili. He was charged with rebellion, undermining national sta- In 1949 Indonesia obtained independ- During twenty-four years of Indonesian bility and masterminding the November ence from the Dutch and occupation an estimated 200,000 East 11 demonstration and was sentenced to ISSUE 29 became one of its provinces. Timorese, 1/3 of the population, were 20 years in prison. killed or died from starvation and war AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION EAST TIMOR BEGINS RECOVERY related disease. In 1996 the awarding of a to Bishop Carlos During the period 1951-1953 all of From 1975 onward, Australian govern- Belo, head of the Timorese ’s overseas territories became ments recognised Indonesian sovereignty Catholic Church overseas provinces. The 1960s saw the over East Timor, which was never recog- and Jose economy picking up, with increased cof- nised by the United Nations or any other fee production, road building and com- country. The UN General Assembly munications established. repeatedly called for 3 Ramos Horta, Timor’s representative to A NATION BORN KEY EPISODES IN CHILDREN the United Nations, drew further world OF THE CROCODILE attention to East Timor. Under the United Nations Transitional 52 minutes Administration (UNTAET), peace was THE PEOPLE DECIDE restored and preparations made for the PART 1: LIFE IN AUSTRALIA 0-25 establishment of an independent govern- MINUTES Under growing international pressure and ment. a weakened economy, Indonesian Presi- Elizabeth and Cidalia recall the story of dent Habibie offered East Timor special In an election on 30 August 2001, repre- their families’ escape from East Timor ‘limited autonomy’ status in 1998. This sentatives were chosen for a Constituent was rejected by East Timorese lead- Assembly to draft a new constitution. The • Growing up in Melbourne in the ers who called for an internationally Fretilin party, led by Mari Alkatiri, won 65% 1980s supervised referendum on East Timor’s of the 88 seats. • Issues of identity, cultural heritage, future. school and family The Constituent Assembly approved • Connections with East Timor Despite a campaign of terror and intimi- a new constitution which puts primary • East Timorese organizations and peo- dation aimed at preventing the ballot, the power in the hands of parliament, but also ple in Melbourne referendum went ahead. On 30 August includes a directly elected president as • Celebrating the referendum outcome, 1999, 98% of East Timorese voted with head of state. On 14 April 2002, resist- then anguish over escalating vio- 78% wanting full independence. ance leader Xanana Gusmao was elected lence. president, winning 82% of the vote. • Struggles over the decision to go to THE VIOLENT AFTERMATH OF THE East Timor BALLOT On 20 May 2002 the UN handed over control of the government to the East PART 2: REBUILDING EAST Following announcement of the results, Timorese and East Timor became the TIMOR 25 - 52 MINUTES militia groups backed by Indonesian mili- world’s newest nation. tary went on a rampage of killing, burning • Images of East Timor and destruction. An estimated 150,000 PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND • Work in East Timor at the United Na- East Timorese were forced to cross the UNDERSTANDINGS tions border into West Timor and were held in • Recording traditional dances and paramilitary camps. ACTIVITY 1 songs • Maintaining and struggling with iden- In Australia and around the world there • What po you already know about East tity were massive demonstrations calling for Timor? • In-.ghts into the resistance the immediate deployment of peacekeep- • What would you like to learn about East • Living across two cultures and coun- ers. Under pressure from world leaders Timor? tries and threatened with the loss of crucial • Hopes for the future World Bank loans, Indonesia agreed to ACTIVITY 2 allow a UN peacekeeping force into East AFTER WATCHING THE FILM Timor. • Starting with the answer ‘East Timor’ write down all the questions you can THEMES On 20 September 1999 an Australian think of that could be linked to this led peacekeeping force arrived in Dili. answer. You may work in groups. EAST TIMOR - THE COUNTRY In the two weeks before their arrival, the • From both of these activities develop infrastructure of East Timor was almost a class list of knowledge and under- • Describe the totally destroyed and many people’s standings about East Timor. using an atlas. Include location, size homes were razed to the ground. of the island, proximity to Australia and Indonesia, and topography. ment policy was on refugees in 1975, sia’s invasion of East Timor. • Read the account of the Crocodile leg- compared to 2002? end at the end of this Study Guide. • What were the reasons for Elizabeth • Find out why Indonesia invaded East • What is the meaning of the legend? and Cidalia’s families leaving East Timor. • How does the film’s title reflect this Timor? • Find out how much the Australian gov- story? • Drawing on issues raised in the film, ernment knew about Indonesia’s plans • Think of some other titles that might develop a list of interview questions to invade East Timor. Why didn’t they also suit the film. for people who have moved from one intervene? • Find out some legends about Australia country to another. from aboriginal stories. • How do you think their answers may One third of East Timor’s population affect the way you welcome newcom- (200,000) were killed as a result of the The first scenes in Part 2 of the film show ers to Australia? Indonesian invasion. the country of East Timor. Other scenes in the film show women and children danc- EAST TIMOR’S STRUGGLE FOR • What moments in the film make this ing and a resistance leader’s hideout. INDEPENDENCE personal to the main characters? • How much did the rest of the world • What impression of the country do you This section requires students to refer to know about what was happening in get from these images? ‘Setting the Context’ as well as the books East Timor? • Draw pictures to represent three and websites in the reference section. scenes of East Timor in the film that A key turning point in the struggle was the had an impact on you. Write captions • From the film and background reading, referendum in August 1999. for your pictures. describe the relevance of these dates, • Create a collage, poster or other visual people and groups to East Timor’s • What developments in Indonesia and display about East Timor for your class- struggle for independence: East Timor allowed the referendum to room. take place? 7 December 1975 • Find out the purposes of a referen- MOVING LANDS 11 November 1991 dum. 20 August 1999 • Give an example of a recent referen- Both Elizabeth and Cidalia were born in 20 May 2002 dum in Australia and the result. East Timor. Elizabeth was eight months Jose Ramos Horta • Describe the response in the Pires old and Cidalia one and a half when their Xanana Gusmao and Exposto families after watching families escaped on a Norwegian cargo Bishop Carlos Belo the news of the referendum result. ship bound for Darwin and arrived in Aus- President tralia as refugees seeking asylum. Fretilin In the latter part of the film, Cidalia visits National Council of Timorese Resist- a hiding place where Timorese resistance • Compare this situation to the asylum ance (CNRT) fighters survived for 25 years. seekers on board the Tampa, also a United Nations Norwegian ship, in September 2001. • How do you think they survived in such • Find out what the Australian govern- In the film archival images depict Indone- conditions? • What other stories do you know about survival? • Imagine you are there when the Fretilin fighters could finally emerge from their hiding places. How do you think they feel? What questions would you ask them?

GROWING UP AND IDENTITY ISSUE 29 AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION In some early scenes of the film, Elizabeth describes how she felt different from oth- ers.

5 A MAP SHOWING EAST TIMOR AND ITS NEIGHBOURS A MAP SHOWING t ELIZABETH SPEAKS AT A MEL- ELIZABETH SPEAKS AT RIGHT: ELIZABETH AT A VILLAGE MEETING IN EAST TIMOR A VILLAGE ELIZABETH AT BOURNE RALLY.

• Why do you think she felt different? lation against discrimination on the basis offices in Melbourne. When they left East • Write a poem, story or essay describing of their race, religion and sexual prefer- Timor, Australian soldiers dropped leaflets a time when you have felt different from ence. In East Timor the new constitution saying, ‘Friends, we will not forget you’. others. prohibits discrimination of the basis of race and religion, but makes no mention • Write an essay, story or poem based The film is set in Australia and East of sexual preference. on this promise. Timor. From 1975 until 1999 Australian • Find out what laws in Australia protect governments accepted Indonesia’s rule • Discuss whether the film is about two people against discrimination. over East Timor and did little to criticise separate cultures or the merging of • Discuss the effectiveness of these the atrocities occurring there. Australian and East Timorese cultures. laws. Give examples from the film of your • Suggest reasons why you think Aus- point of view. Cidalia’s performance in the group Surik tralia took this position. • Think about ways in which you could is also part of her identity. • What incident in the film supports the be part of a culture without living in the view that some Australians saw the country of that culture. • In what ways does this group shape Indonesian occupation of East Timor her identity? as a minor issue? In a powerful and moving scene, Cidalia • How do you think your personal identity • Find out how Australia and other talks about her personal and sexual iden- has been shaped by key events in your Western countries such as the USA, tity and the response of her father in par- life? Britain and assisted Indonesia ticular to her ‘coming out’ as a lesbian. • Discuss any groups you are a part of in maintaining their occupation. and how they affect who you are. • In what ways is this an important part After the August 1999 referendum in of her identity and how did her father AUSTRALIA’S RESPONSE TO East Timor, militia backed by Indonesian respond? EAST TIMOR soldiers went on a rampage of killing,

AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION • Why did Cidalia’s sexual identity af- burning and destruction. fect her feelings about going to East During World War II Australian troops

ISSUE 29 Timor? fought with East Timorese against the • How did the post-election violence af- Japanese. Elizabeth refers to this in her fect Cidalia and Elizabeth? 6 In Australia people are protected by legis- speech at the rally outside government • Were you aware of what was hap- pening at that time and how were you reconstruction of their coun- affected? try. • When and why did Australia send • Elizabeth says she took a peacekeepers to East Timor? political path in fighting for • Evaluate the reasons why peacekeep- East Timor, while Cidalia’s ers were not sent earlier and the con- was more artistic. Discuss sequences for the Timorese people. the many different ways that a person can express EAST TIMORESE COMMUNITY IN their opinions or work for the AUSTRALIA causes they believe in.

This film depicts a vibrant and active East REBUILDING A Timorese community in Melbourne. East COUNTRY Timorese communities across Australia are now playing a significant role in sup- In the film we see Elizabeth porting and rebuilding East Timor. working as a Liaison Officer for the UN National Planning and Develop- From 1999 to May 2002 the United Na- • Find out where the larger Timorese ment Agency. Her role is to liaise between tions governed East Timor and assisted communities in Australia are located the UN transitional administration and the the country in its transition to full inde- and how big they are. local community. pendence. • Find out about some of the organiza- tions in Australia that support East • Why do you think Elizabeth would be • Find out the key mission of the UN Timor and what activities they are good at this job? and why it was the most appropriate involved with. • What skills would she need to draw on organisation to manage East Timor’s to effectively carry out this role? transition to independence. Cultural heritage is a strong theme • What difficulties might Elizabeth face • What consequences do you think throughout the film. as a Timorese who lived overseas? the large UN presence in East Timor might have on Timorese society and • Cite some of the specific scenes that The majority of people in East Timor live culture? reflect the importance of culture, de- in small rural communities in thirteen • Find out the type of government operat- spite the experience of distance from districts. The film shows Elizabeth in her ing in East Timor and who are the new the homeland. role as liaison officer attending a rural Prime Minister and President. • Find out more about Timorese culture, village meeting. including the music, dance, food, lan- COMING HOME guage and customs. Are there similari- • What does Elizabeth mean when she ties with your own culture? says ‘the trend so far has been a top- Throughout the world there are many • Organise a presentation or perform- down approach’ to development? groups of people like the East Timorese ance in your school that shows the who have been dispersed from their importance of cultural heritage. There are many government and non- homelands. Some of these people de- government agencies in Australia that cide to return home, after living away for The film shows Elizabeth working at a work in developing countries like East many years. human rights centre, speaking at public Timor. events, volunteering for a community • Find out what the term ‘diaspora’ radio program, and taking part in politi- • Choose one agency and find out about means. cal protests. their approach to development. • What causes peoples to be part of a diaspora? • Why do you think she became such a Elizabeth visits her aunt and uncle in • From the film, describe the role that the ISSUE 29 committed activist? Suai, a town on the south coast of East Timorese diaspora had during the past • What problems or issues do you or Timor near the border with Indonesia. 25 years in East Timor’s history. AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION your family feel strongly about? • Discuss how the different people • How do you think they feel about the in Cidalia’s family respond- Xanana Gusmao’s visit to Melbourne future? ed to East Timor’s in- inspired Elizabeth and Cidalia to take • What things might they feel uncertain dependence. action to help rebuild East Timor. about?

• Explain the reasons why Elizabeth and Cidalia went to East Timor and describe the way in which they each contributed to the 7 t Long ago a boy saw a baby crocodile stranded between a lagoon and Making Children of the sea, fighting for his life in the hot sun. the Crocodile enabled me The boy took pity on him and carried the to reflect on themes which are central to crocodile to the sea. The crocodile was my own life and to the film - the search grateful and promised that he would repay for identity, our connection to roots and the boy’s kindness. Time passed. The boy homeland, and the sources of hope in remembered the crocodile’s promise and people’s lives. went to sea to call him. They were like two old friends meeting after a long time, very What were some of the decisions you had happy to see each other. The crocodile to make during the film? told the boy to sit on his back and took Cidalia’s final words in the film are about him on a journey. They travelled like this having two homes, one in Australia and Finding the right balance between the many times. one in East Timor. personal and political, the small and the big picture, was difficult. Because the film Then one day the crocodile felt he would • Write a story, poem or essay about your focuses on a particular two-year period, like to eat the boy. But somehow his own experience or the experience of we were unable to include as much his- conscience troubled him, so he decided a friend or relative who also feels they tory and background on East Timor as I to ask the opinion of other animals. He have more than one home. would have liked. The stylistic choice of consulted a whale, a tiger, a buffalo and having the two main characters provide finally a monkey. All of them condemned CELEBRATING A NEW NATION the film’s voice meant that all information him saying he shouldn’t repay a favour had to come through them or the people with a bad action. On 20 May 2002 East Timor celebrated in their lives. its full independence. The crocodile was ashamed and gave up What is omitted from the film? the idea of eating the boy. He still took • Why do you think the East Timorese the boy on his back and they travelled struggle for independence was finally The film does not convey the full brutality together until the crocodile became very successful? of Indonesia’s twenty five year occupa- old. • From scenes in the film, as well as re- tion, nor the extent of other countries’ search, sketch a picture that illustrates complicity in arming, training and sup- Then he said, ‘My friend, the good deed May 20, 2002 in East Timor. porting the occupying forces. It offers you did for me can never be repaid. Now • What can Australia do now to assist glimpses of East Timor but doesn’t fully that I am old and obliged to die, I will East Timor in becoming a strong, in- explore the thorny political issues of re- change into a land where you and your dependent nation? building a country where the infrastructure descendants will live’. was almost completely destroyed. BEHIND THE LENS - THE FILM That crocodile became the island of East DIRECTOR What do you hope for from the film? Timor.

(MEDIA STUDIES) I hope the audience who are not familiar For the Timorese, the crocodile is their with East Timor’s past or recent history ancestor and they are the children of Marsha Emerman wrote, directed and co- will be inspired to discover more for them- Great Grandfather Crocodile. produced the film Children of the Croco- selves. I also hope the film plays a role dile. She reflects on her experiences in in reconciling Timorese who remained in REFERENCES making the film. their country with those forced to flee, by showing their shared commitment to BOOKS Why did you produce the film? freedom and justice for East Timor. Peter Carey and G. Carter, (eds.) East Children of the Crocodile combined my FINAL ACTIVITY Timor at the Crossroads: The Forging passion for documentary film-making with of a Nation, Cassell, London, 1995, pp. a desire to show solidarity for the East (To be completed at the end of the film or 259. Various contributors, bibliography, Timorese. It also provided a chance to at the end of the unit of work.) chronology. learn more about Timorese culture - the music, dance, language and customs that • What did you learn about East James Dunn Timor: A People Betrayed,

AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION nourished and sustained the Timorese Timor? ABC Books, Sydney, 1995, pp. 365. people through our four-hundred years Revised from 1983 edition. Maps, pho-

ISSUE 29 of Portuguese colonization and twenty- THE CROCODILE LEGEND tographs, glossary, index. five years of Indonesian occupation. 8 (from which the film title is drawn) East Timor Education Kit For Second- CHILDREN OF THE CROCODILE 52 minutes, 2001 | Produced with the assistance of SBS Independent and Film Victoria

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Marsha Emerman, PRODUCERS: Marsha Emerman & John Moore, CAMERA: Sue Roberts & Peter Zakharov, SOUND: Bob Phelps, EDITOR: Bill Murphy

Available in PAL/NTSC video format for educational use. For more details please contact: CHILDREN OF THE CROCODILE, PO Box 2424, Fitzroy MC 3065, Australia TEL: (03) 9830 1592 FAX: (03) 9481 2541 (Int: +613) E-MAIL: [email protected]

ary, Tertiary and Adult Studies (2nd ed) This web site has much information and TAKING ACTION CISET, Sydney, 1999. Information sheets many links to offer. The information is on East Timor’s history, culture, religion, current and kept up-to-date. The site If you’d like to take further action to con- and politics, profiles of Timorese leaders, is closely associated with the Fund for tribute to rebuilding East Timor the fol- and suggested activities. East Timor. lowing organizations will welcome your assistance. East Timor: Transition to statehood Cath- www.gov.east-timor.org olic Institute for International Relations, AUSTRALIA-EAST TIMOR ASSOCIATION, London, 2001, pp.48. A useful summary in Still being developed, this site will provide PO Box 93, Fitzroy VIC 3065. CIIR’s Comment series of booklets about information on the new Government of TEL.: (03) 9416 2960 Third World countries. East Timor (Governo Timor Leste) and Email: [email protected] will also include a link to the previous Geoffrey C. Gunn Timor Loro Sae: 500 government of the East Timor Transitional AUSTRALIA-EAST TIMOR ASSOCIATION, Years, Livros do Oriente, Macau, 1999, Administration (ETTA). PO Box 751, Darlinghurst NSW 2010. pp.323. The history of East Timor in a TEL.: (02) 9519 4788, well-presented volume with photographs, AUSTRALIAN WEBSITES Email: [email protected] bibliography, index. 323 pp www.goasiapacific.com/specials/etimor/ AUSTRALIA-EAST TIMOR FRIENDSHIP AS- Richard Tanter, et al (eds) Bitter Flowers, default.htm SOCIATION, Sweet Flowers: East Timor, Indonesia c/- Global Education Centre, 1st floor, and the World Community, Pluto Press Part of the ‘Go Pacific’ gateway Torrens Building, 220 Victoria Square, Australia, Sydney, 2001, pp.291. Con- which collects information created by Adelaide SA 5000. tributors include Noam Chomsky. the ABC. Includes information, news TEL.: (08) 8410 1022 stories and comprehensive links relating E-mail: [email protected] John Taylor, East Timor: The Price of to East Timor. Freedom, Zed Books, London, 1999, HOBART EAST TIMOR COMMITTEE, pp.272. Updated edition of “Indonesia’s INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE 2/65 Bay Rd, New Town, TAS 7008. Forgotten War”. Chronology, bibliography, Tel.: (03) 6228 2727 index. www.etan.org AUSTRALIANS FOR A FREE EAST TIMOR, Rodney Tiffen, Diplomatic Deceits: Gov- An essential resource site for the East PO Box 2155, Darwin NT 0801. ernment, Media and East Timor, Universi- Timor researcher. The East Timor Action TEL.: (08) 8983 2113 ty of NSW Press, 2001. pp.128. Foreword Network, an NGO in the , Email: [email protected] by Chris Masters. Photographs. continues to maintain this information strong website. A free resource list is available WEBSITES from the Australia-East Timor Asso- UNITED NATIONS WEBSITE ciation, Tel (03) 9416 2960 Email: ISSUE 29 EAST TIMORESE WEBSITES [email protected] www.undp.east-timor.org AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION www.geocities.com/etngoforum/ For more information about After 20 May 2002 United Nations activ- ATOM study guides Key website for non-government organi- ity in East Timor will be delivered via the visit our web site: zations active in East Timor. An excellent United Nations Development Program resource for understanding current devel- (UNDP) which maintains this website. opment issues in East Timor. www.easttimor.com 9