TRAVERSE 117
TRAVEL- TIMOR-LESTE
LEIGH WILKINS
A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION
Rounding any bend in the road, or twist in a track, somewhere in Timor-Leste and you’ ll find an image of Christ, a cross or even the Virgin Mary. Often in the most secluded locations, more than likely a village square. Temples of worship are a similar occurrence, a church in a township or an alter amongst the trees. This small island nation is deeply religious with a history that goes back to colonialisation and political interruption.
The first thing you notice is the Christo Rei, or more correctly the Estátua do Cristo Rei de Díli in the national language Portuguese or the Estátua Cristo Rei Dili in the other national language of Tetum.
This twenty-seven metre high statue of Jesus Christ sits atop a globe of the world with Timor-Leste at the centre. Located at the Cape Fatucama it has become one of the nations great tourist attractions since its construction almost thirty years ago. Steeped in controversy, the statue has become a symbol of the nations Catholic faith however, many also see it as a tool of propaganda from an Indonesian government that had been in brutal control of Timor- Leste for the past twenty years.
" This is Jakarta ' s propaganda to deceive its own people and the international community,” proclaimed Timorese freedom fighter, Xanana Gusmão, who at the time was a political prisoner being held in Jakarta. Gusmão would eventually help lead Timor-Leste to partition from Indonesia and see it become its own sovereign nation.
Despite the statue of Christ’ s checkered history there’ s little doubt that it is an imposing figure as it stands looking over Asia’ s newest nation. It was an introduction to what would come in the following days.
The religious history of Timor
TRAVERSE 117