Australian journalist Jill Jolliffe, who witnessed the first Indonesian military incursions in Timor-Leste, died this Friday at the age of 77, a source close to the family has informed the Lusa agency.
The journalist, who came to live in Portugal, witnessed the first Indonesian military incursions into Timorese territory, in September 1975, after having reported the deaths of five professional colleagues in October of that year (Brian Peters, Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham , Malcolm Rennie and Tony Stewart), murdered in the town of Balibó, being known as the “Balibó Five”.
The five journalists were killed in a clandestine operation by Indonesian special forces, in preparation for the invasion of the territory, until then a Portuguese colony.
The book that Jill Jolliffe wrote, “Cover Up – The inside story of the Balibo Five”, inspired the feature film directed by Robert Connolly and starring Anthony LaPaglia, which was released in 2009 in Australia.
Former Timorese President Xanana Gusmão mourned the death of the Australian journalist on Saturday.
“It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Jill Jolliffe, an acclaimed Australian journalist, political activist and lifelong advocate for justice in Timor-Leste. Jill was a hero of the Timorese people”, said Xanana Gusmão, in a note sent to the Lusa news agency.
“Jill was an activist, a rebel, a fighter. She persistently exposed the reality of the Indonesian military occupation and supported the struggle of the Timorese people. She will always have a special place in our national history. She is one of us.”
Xanana Gusmão pointed out that the journalist supported the Timorese independence struggle, with great personal sacrifices, recalling the coverage she did in 1975, during the first incursions in Indonesia and the case of the “Cinco de Balibó”.
“Jill was in Dili to cover the proclamation of independence on November 28, 1975. She took photos of our leaders, including President Nicolau Lobato, who will forever be precious and iconic images for our nation,” recalled the former Timorese president.
For Xanana Gusmão, Jill Jolliffe became “a tireless activist for the Timorese cause, working tirelessly to expose the horrors of the [indonésia] to the world”.
The journalist, who published her first book on Timor in 1978, returned to the country in 1994 after undertaking a clandestine journey through the mountains to interview one of the resistance leaders, Konis Santana, in order to denounce human rights abuses. crimes committed by Indonesians. forces in the country.
Jill Jolliffe received the Order of Solidarity Medal in 2014 from the Government of Timor-Leste.
Source: Observadora
