From Tian Chua
Oct 26, 2025 marks a deeply meaningful historic milestone, with Timor-Leste officially joining Asean.
For most people, it may seem like just another expansion of the region’s economic bloc, offering new markets and business opportunities. But Timor-Leste’s admission represents the victory of a nation’s quest for freedom, dignity and self-determination against overwhelming odds.
For me, and my circle of activist friends, it signifies something far more profound — the fulfilment of our long journey for freedom and comradeship and, for now, the closing of a personal circle.
Back in the 1980s, when we were studying in Australia, the struggle for East Timor’s independence was among many issues of injustice on our student activism agenda.
We were full of energy and conviction, fighting alongside fellow students from East Timor who were living in exile — far from their occupied homeland, yet never giving up hope.
Together, we campaigned, protested and spoke out for the liberation of East Timor from the then brutal Indonesian military occupation.
When we returned home to Malaysia after our studies, we tried to continue our advocacy — only to face hostility from the authorities.
Speaking up for East Timor was seen as antagonistic to Asean’s “regional solidarity”. My first experience of being arrested — my baptism into detention in the lock-up — came from a protest against Indonesia’s massacre of innocent Timorese civilians. It helped me shake off the fear and anxiety towards the police in my later days.
And now, decades later, the world witnesses Timor-Leste standing tall among Asean nations with dignity. I can’t help but think of my Timorese friends from those student days — it was our unshakeable belief that one day our dream would be realised. This is our moment of immense pride.
Justice, meanwhile, comes with a touch of irony. Many Asean governments once treated Timor-Leste’s struggle with suspicion, even animosity. Today, the same club of nations welcomes it as family. In truth, this is not simply Asean granting admission to Timor-Leste.
Rather, it is Timor-Leste extending to Asean a powerful gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation. For Asean, embracing its youngest member is not only an act of inclusion but also a form of repentance — a quiet acknowledgement of past indifference and a step towards rectifying historical wrongs.
The spirit of Asean, rooted in peace, cooperation and mutual respect, can only grow stronger with Timor-Leste among us. Its story reminds us that regional unity must rest not just on economics, but on empathy and justice.
One cannot help but draw parallels between Timor-Leste and Palestine. Like Palestine, Timor-Leste was once an occupied territory. A third of Timor-Leste’s people perished in war, massacre and starvation — yet the nation endured and eventually prevailed. Both nations faced invading forces far superior in size and weaponry, yet their resilience never faltered.
Perhaps the Palestinian solidarity movement could find inspiration in Timor-Leste’s long and painful journey — one that ultimately led to freedom, reconciliation and dignity restored.
Today, as Timor-Leste takes its place in Asean, we remind ourselves that the ideals we are fighting for — freedom, solidarity and compassion — were never in vain. Be it in Timor-Leste, Palestine or any oppressed nation, justice lives on in the quiet triumphs of history and in the courage of those who never stopped believing.
Tian Chua is a former MP and an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.