Alas (East Timor) facts for kids

Alas (East Timor) is a town in Alas Subdistrict. It is located in the interior of the island, 294 metres above sea level. As the crow flies, Alas is 56 km southeast of the state capital Dili und 7 km to the East of Same. Alas lies to the North of the Suco of Mahaquidan (Malaquidan, Malagidan), and the Alas suburbs of Uma Mean (Umanican, Umamean) and Beremanek are located in Mahaquidan. The suburbs of Lurin und Ailora are in the suco of Taitudac (Taitudak, Taitudac, Taitudal). It is located in the interior of the island, 294 metres above sea level. As the crow flies, Alas is 56 km southeast of the state capital Dili und 7 km to the East of Same. Alas lies to the North of the Suco of Mahaquidan (Malaquidan, Malagidan), and the Alas suburbs of Uma Mean (Umanican, Umamean) and Beremanek are located in Mahaquidan. The suburbs of Lurin und Ailora are in the suco of Taitudac (Taitudak, Taitudac, Taitudal). There is a medical station and a helicopter in Alas, as well as a primary school (Escola primaria Alas Vila) and a pre-secondary school.

History

Pre-colonial and Portuguese Timor

Alas was one of the traditional kingdoms of Timor, ruled by a Liurai. Alas appears in a list of 47 territories governed by a former Governor of Portuguese Timor, Afonso de Castro in 1868 AD. In 1700, the Liurai of Alas was converted to Christianity by a Dominican friar Manuel de Santo António

In 1761-62 Dom José, the Liurai of Alas was a member of the governing council which took over the running of Portuguese Timor following the expulsion and death of Governor Sebastião de Azevedo e Brito. During the Cová rebellion (1868-1871), Alas sent troops to support the Portuguese colonial authorities. However, during the Manufahi rebellion in 1911–12, Alas sided with the rebels.

1975 Civil War

During the 1975 civil war, supporters of the UDT and the FRETILIN movement, who had previously been in coalition, were involved in numerous altercations.

Indonesian Invasion and Occupation

Following the Indonesian invasion in December 1975, Alas was one of the areas to which the FALINTIL resistance movement retreated, and the location of the South-Central resistance base (base de apoio Centro Sul). This base initially sheltered refugees from Manatuto, Same, Dili, Liquiçá, Ermera, Aileu and Ainaro, and in 1978 also received refugees from Turiscai In August 1978, the base was attacked by Indonesian forces. During the three-month siege which followed, many civilians were killed or died of hunger and thousands of East Timorese surrendered or were taken prisoner. Prisoners from Alas, as well as those from other regions such as Same, Fatuberlio, Turiscai, Maubisse, Aileu, Soibada und Natarbora, were interned in military camps in Selihassan or Same, or taken to temporary camps near Alas town: Uma Metan (the Black House), 400 metres south of Alas town; or Lebos, 2 km to the Southwest. A further "settlement camp" was located in Besusu (Suco Uma Berloic).

At one point, 8000 people were interned in Uma Metan. Prisoners were given only a small can of maize each week, and were forbidden to leave the camp to seek more food or tend gardens. The nearest water source was 500 metres away. Witnesses allege that five or six people died daily from starvation. Illnesses such as tuberculosis, beri-beri and diarrhoea were rife, and there was no medical care. Executions of those involved in the resistance were also common. On the orders of their captors, the prisoners built a village hall and a school, where they were to be taught the Indonesian language. In reality however, the "pupils" of this school were young female prisoners. Residents of the area allege that around 2,000 people were buried in mass graves near Uma Metan.

The Uma Metan and Lebos camps were important military bases for the Indonesian forces fighting resistance supporters in the mountains of Manufahi. Among others, units from the 700 Land-Air Battalion, the 745 and 310 Battalions and Kopassandha special forces unit were stationed here. Alas was also the headquarters for the 'Koramil' sub-district territorial command and the Hansip civil defence force.

In 1979, areas previously not occupied by the Indonesian forces came under attack. Residents of these areas fled to Sarin or Turiscai, which were already under Indonesian control. In 1981, the inhabitants of Bubussuso and Fahinehan were forcibly resettled in Dotik after they were suspected of supplying FALINTIL resistance fighters with food.

Between 1970 and 1980 the number of inhabitants in the Alas sank by 29%, falling from 5,034 to 3,574.