Prabowo Subianto's Controversial Past with East Timor's Politics
- In 1983, Indonesian soldiers carried out a massacre in Buikarin, East Timor, where 141 individuals were killed.
- Prabowo Subianto, who is set to become Indonesia's president, has been linked to these historical atrocities during the occupation.
- Despite the past horrors, some East Timorese politicians are optimistic about Prabowo's presidency, suggesting potential benefits for East Timor.
In East Timor, on September 7, 1983, Indonesian soldiers executed a massacre in the village of Buikarin, where 141 people were killed, and survivors like Soares narrowly escaped death. This brutal event is linked to Prabowo Subianto, who led Indonesian special forces during the country’s occupation of East Timor from 1975 to 1999. Despite the tragic history and ongoing search for victims' remains, senior Timorese politicians have surprisingly welcomed Prabowo's election as Indonesia's next president, suggesting it may benefit Timor. Nonetheless, discussions about past Indonesian crimes remain sensitive, especially when addressing the roles of Timorese collaborators and questionable actions by the resistance. With many victims still suffering psychologically, there are calls for accountability that remain unfulfilled, highlighting the long-lasting impact of the violent past on East Timor's present and future.