ACbit – Chega! Ba Ita Learning from the Past, for A Better Future
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Dili, 26 June 2025 – Klibur Sobrevivente Feto PIRILAMPU is a group formed by women victims and survivors of past conflicts between 1974 and 1999. It consists of women who experienced sexual violence during the Indonesian occupation and children born as a result of that violence.
Today, on June 26th, in commemoration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, PIRILAMPU made a press release to publicly announce its existence and to speak out in support of victims and survivors of torture in Timor-Leste.
Maria Isabel J. Silva, President of PIRILAMPU, stated: “PIRILAMPU means a small light in the darkness. When these small lights come together, they become a great light that can guide those who are marginalised and forgotten by justice.”
Although Timor-Leste has gained independence, many victims of sexual torture have not yet felt the full freedom of that independence. They continue to live in silence and pain, without proper recognition or attention from the Government. Moreover, some members of society continue to judge and stigmatize them based on their past.
Maria Carvalho Amaral, Vice President of PIRILAMPU, emphasized: “The existence of PIRILAMPU is a call to the State to recognise the victims, and to provide fair and dignified compensation. The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is a moment to reflect, to learn from our past, and to ensure that such violations are never repeated in our country and society.”
Klibur Sobrevivente Feto PIRILAMPU 1974–1999 was established with the support of ACbit and AJAR-TL, who organised survivors from all 13 municipalities. The group was officially formed on 22 October 2022, and tomorrow, 27 June 2025, PIRILAMPU will take a historic step by signing its registration certificate at the Notariado, formalising its legal status as an organisation in Timor-Leste.
