# Happy Independence Day East Timor!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 19, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817 "2002-05-19T14:31:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/1 "2002-05-19T14:31:04Z")
I’d like to congratulate them on becoming a free and independent nation in … about 90 more minutes.
I hope good things happen for the people of this almost new born nation. And most importantly peace.
P.S. I like your flag.
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### Author:  [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/2 "2002-05-19T14:38:28Z")
Got a link for that flag, Osiris?
Oh and, yeah, congratulations. It’s long overdue.
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### Author:  [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/3 "2002-05-19T14:40:05Z")
Right on, man. That has been an epic struggle, and do they ever face future challenges. Also seems like a time when for once the UN did something right and positive for a change.
A victory of right versus might, and hpefully will be a guiding beacon for some others in their struggle.
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### Author:  [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/4 "2002-05-19T14:53:28Z")
Yes, congratulations to Australia’s newest neighbour.
[East Timor’s flag](http://www.geographic.org/flags/east_timor_flags.html). The green and white flag lower in the page is that of FALINTIL, the the liberation Army of East Timor. It served as a temporary device for East Timor.
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### Author:  [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/5 "2002-05-19T15:09:52Z")
You see? It’s a very directional flag. It takes you thata way —\> Plus it looks like it hangs vertically very well.
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### Author:  [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/6 "2002-05-19T16:04:16Z")
It’s May 20th in Dili, and East Timor is free again! Congratulations, guys. You have a nice flag, and your name is fun to say! East Timor! East Timor!
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### Author:  [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/7 "2002-05-19T16:32:32Z")
Yep - it is good news - and was not exactly easily acquired. Independence, I mean, not the news. All good wishes to East Timor.
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### Author:  [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/8 "2002-05-19T23:49:03Z")
Yup. Well done neighbours. You blokes have struggled long and hard, and deserve all our best wishes for the success of your newborn nation.
Oh, and I hope we Aussies weren’t outta line with that looking-in-the-other-direction-for-20-years gag. At least Prime Minister Howard did _something_ after years of Australian Prime Ministers from both political sides who were too scared to say “Boo” to Indonesia.
[sub]Yup, the same Aussie politicians from all parties who are suddenly “too busy” to meet the Dalai Lama on his Australian tour, and of course it has nothing to do with the multi-billion dollar gas construction deal we’re currently negotiating with Beijing.[/sub]
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### Author:  [@Ell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ell)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/9 "2002-05-19T23:57:47Z")
Congratulations little one. You will go far.
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### Author:  [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/10 "2002-05-20T00:21:15Z")
I just hope that our Aussie politicians don’t think the hard yards are over. There’s a whole infrastructure which needs to be built in East Timor over the coming years if this tiny, dirt poor nation is to realise the dreams and aspirations for which they fought so fiercely - and at such great cost.
Did anyone else watch the media coverage of the moment of independence? It brought tears to my eyes.
Good onya East Timor; hope to be playing cricket against you guys soon. 🙂
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### Author:  [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/11 "2002-05-20T00:58:50Z")
It’s an incredibly poor nation, so I just hope it doesn’t become the next the next Pattaya / Angeles City for drunken young backpackers.
**reprise** is correct in that we need to stay in this with the East Timorese for the long haul.
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### Author:  [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/12 "2002-05-20T02:08:22Z")
BTW, kudos too to Indonesia for sending _six_ warships (without permission) into East Timor’s territorial waters on the eve of independance. :rolleyes: What fucking arrogance.
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### Author:  [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/13 "2002-05-20T02:14:36Z")
But they were only protecting Megawati **Narrad** …
And if you believe that, let me sell you some real estate.
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### Author:  [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/14 "2002-05-20T02:39:11Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by reprise \*
> \*\*But they were only protecting Megawati **Narrad** …
>
> And if you believe that, let me sell you some real estate. \*\*
🙂 I hear the Timor Gap is up for grabs!
: d&r :
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### Author:  [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/15 "2002-05-20T10:01:46Z")
Shameless bump because any nation which has fought this long and this hard for independence and has so many strikes against it deserves every single “happy birthday” we who take democracy for granted can wish it.
You go guys!!!
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### Author:  [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/16 "2002-05-20T10:06:33Z")
YAY ! Go East Timor. Hopefully we won’t let you down (well, our leaders, more specifically) in the future.
Happy Independence Day guys 😃
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/17 "2002-05-20T10:28:06Z")
It’s great to hear some good news for a change.
Totally excellent. Xanana Gusmao rules.
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### Author:  [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/18 "2002-05-20T10:37:40Z")
I feel so damned ashamed - I should have googled their national anthem by now…
Anyone want to publish the lyrics and put together a .wav file - it’s not often we get to see the birth of a nation.
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### Author:  [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/19 "2002-05-20T10:51:53Z")
It’s been one hell of a road for them, and this has taken more years than it should have. Congratulations, East Timor!
I think this is East Timor’s national anthem [here](http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/2654/modern/easttimor.htm).
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### Author:  [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2002, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day-east-timor/109817/20 "2002-05-20T10:53:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> On May 20, 2002, this former part of Indonesia regained the independence it nearly gained until Indonesia took over the island following Portugese withdrawal from the territory in 1975. The anthem used during that brief time in 1975 is the one again in use by this brand new country: “Foho Ramelau”, written by Borja da Costa
From
[here](http://www.national-anthems.net/~davidk/tp.txt) :
\*Eh! Foho Ramelau, Foho Ramelau!
Sá bé as liu ó tutun, Sá bé bein liu ó lolon eh!
Tan sá timur oan hakruuk bei-beik?
Tan sá timur oan atan bei-beik?
Tan sá timur ulun sudur uai-uain?
Tan sá timur oan atan uai-uain?
Hadér rai-hun mutin ona la!
Hadér loro foun sa’e ona la!
Loke matan loro foun too iha ó knuak
Loke matan loro foun iha ita rain
Hadér kaer rasik kuda talin eh!
Hadér ukun rasik ita rain eh! \*
I’m still desperately searching for a wav file of the Independence Ceremony if anyone can find one overnight while I’m sleeping…