Proclamation of Independence Day (Portuguese: Dia da Proclamação da Independência) is a national holiday and a celebration to commemorate the East TimorUnilateral Declaration of Independence from the Portuguese rule in 1975. The event is annually celebrated on 28th November and marked by official and unofficial ceremonies and observances. The event is defined by the Timor-Leste parliament in the Law No. 10/2005 Of 10 August as part of its national holiday.[1]
A few days after the proclamation, UDT and three other smaller parties announced the 'Balibo Declaration' - a call calling for the Indonesian government to annex Timor. Even though it is called the Balibo Declaration, witnesses who signed it testified that the draft declaration was drafted in Jakarta and signed at a hotel in Bali under conditions of coercion as recorded in the report of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation for Timor-Leste (CAVR) in 2005.
Nine days later, Indonesia invaded East Timor on 7 December 1975. Indonesia decided to invade Timorese territory under the pretext of defending citizens of Indonesian ethnicity. The attack allowed Indonesia to successfully occupy Timor for 24 years.[3][4][5]
Unilateral Declaration of Independence
East Timor, under FRETILIN rule, unilaterally declared its independence on 28 November 1975. This following text of proclamation is written on a memorial monument built to commemorate the 1975 Government of East Timor:[6]
Encarnando a aspiração suprema do povo de Timor Leste e para salvaguarda dos
seus mais legítimos direitos e interesses
como Nação Soberana, o Comité Central
da FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DE TIMOR LESTE
INDEPENDENTE – FRETILIN –
decreta e eu proclamo, unilateralmente,
a Independência de Timor Leste
que passa a ser, a partir das 00H00 de hoje,
a República Democrática de
Timor-Leste, anti-colonialista e anti- imperialista.
Embodying the supreme aspiration of the people of East Timor and for safeguarding the
their most legitimate rights and interests
as a Sovereign Nation, the Central Committee
of the EAST TIMOR REVOLUTIONARY FRONT
INDEPENDENT – FRETILIN –
decrees and I proclaim, unilaterally,
the Independence of East Timor
which will be, as of 00:00 today,
the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste, anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist.
Long Live the Democratic Republic of East Timor!
Long Live the People of Free and Independent East Timor!
Long live the FRETILIN!
Observance
The Proclamation of Independence Day had been made as the national holiday in East Timor from 2005.[1]
Flag hoisting ceremony on Proclamation Day 2020 in Gleno.
The event is celebrated annually with a ceremony attended by the government of Timor-Leste, with a flag rising ceremony and the singing of the national anthem, the Military of Timor-Leste also performs military parades in the country.[7] Students, civil servants and state agents, are required to participate in the celebrations and commemorative ceremonies of the Proclamation of Independence Day taking place in public services or teaching establishments, whether public or private.[1]
