East Timor

East Timor unilaterally declared independence from Portugal on November 28, 1975. However, nine days later, on December 7, Indonesian forces invaded Dili, the capital, largest city, chief port, & commercial center of East Timor. On July 17, 1976, Indonesia annexed East Timor, which it designated as the 27th province of Indonesia, Timor Timur (Indonesian for East Timor), with Dili still as its capital. A guerrilla war ensued from 1975 to 1999 between Indonesian & pro-independence forces, during which tens of thousands of East Timorese & numerous foreign civilians were killed. Media coverage of the 1991 Dili Massacre helped revitalize international support for the East Timorese independence movement.

In 1999, East Timor was placed under UN supervision. On May 20, 2002, Dili became the capital of the newly independent Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

The Dili Allstars are an Australian & East Timorese reggae/ska band based in Melbourne. They are one of the leading voices of support for the East Timorese people & a most popular musical group. They were formed when Paul Stewart & Colin Buckler (of the Aussie band Painters & Dockers) contacted East Timorese musician Gil Santos to record a song to protest the capture of East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmão by Indonesian armed forces in the early nineties. Both Santos & Stewart had a long involvement with the East Timor struggle. They had lost a father & a brother, respectively, in the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975. Paul Stewart’s brother Tony was one of the five Australian journalists killed in East Timor in 1975. Gil Santos’ father was killed in the same conflict.

The song they recorded was a version of Rose Tattoo's 'We Can't Be Beaten', sung in both Tetum (Tetum is an Austronesian language spoken on the island of Timor) & English. In 2001 the Allstars released their first album Hanoin. This album, Viva La Musica, was released in 2004. This is wonderful world music, funny, & honest, born out of suffering.

On Viva La Musica, The Dili Allstars are: Paul Stewart & Paulo Almeida – vocals;  Gil Santos – keyboards; Colin Badger – lead guitar; Nelito Ribero– bass; Zeca Mesquita – percussion; Mark Grunden - drums

The Dili Allstars – Viva La Musica, 2004. 

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Tracklist -

O Hele Le
Runaway
Thank You Mama
Peace & Unity
That Girl
Nothing Tastes Better than the Neighbour's Chicken
Rise Up
Innocent Child
Advance Australia Where?
Beautiful Smile
Have You Ever Been Blown Ashore?
Sempre Contigo
O Hele Le (Reprise)

Viva la Resistance,

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