Dili, March 27, 2026 – The Centro Nacional Chega! I.P. held a book launch and discussion for “Janji Yang Tertinggal Di Ruang Gelap.” The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education, lecturers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders. Several speakers, including Nug Katjasungkana and Zelia Vital, alongside the book’s author, Bill Soares, presented the book’s contents, which was held at the Conference Room of Centro Chega!, Antigo Comarca, Balide-Dili.
In his intervention, Hugo Maria Fernandes, Executive Director of Centro Chega!, highlighted the core points from the book “Janji Yang Tertinggal di Ruang Gelap” written by Bill Soares. The book tells the story of Ze, a 12-year-old boy in Maliana, Bobonaro Municipality, during the popular consultation in 1999. He emphasized that this book is important for strengthening the memory, as its character presents a humble manner that takes us on a journey through our imagination, without losing its proper context.
Hugo mentioned that Ze’s story, presented in this book, is one that Indonesians can engage with. Centro Chega! is committed to sharing this book with its partners in Indonesia, particularly the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma, so that it can be included in their library. The book explores two main concepts. The first concept is “Aesthetic Melancholy,” which highlights how literary works can introduce bitter memories through various forms of expression, including poetry, prose, drama, and films. These works primarily focus on the victims, allowing their memories to serve as reflections. The second concept is “Passionist Memory,” which encourages us to reflect on the suffering of people. This reflection can reshape our mindsets and attitudes regarding what we witness.
Centro Chega! has a program called Integrated Memorialization, which serves as a platform to ensure that the memory of the people, based on the concept of Chega!, is perpetually honored with dignity and values. The core idea of this program is to create an open space for dignifying, honoring, and respecting.
“I am pleased that this book is written in Indonesian. Indonesians need to read and learn about what occurred in Timor, particularly in Maliana. For Timor, this book represents a transformation of past events. I hope this book will be reproduced in greater numbers,” said Hugo.
At the same time, Bill Soares, a writer, explained that it takes a long time to write a book about Ze’s story, which began in 2017. The purpose of writing this book is to remember the events that occurred during the popular consultation in 1999, when the pro-autonomy militia murdered Ze.
“My initial point of view is justice. In this book, other people will be able to hear their stories. They can feel that their deaths were not in vain, and they will see that this young boy was not a warrior who took up a rifle—he was just an ordinary child. I would like to thank Centro Chega! for giving us the chance to launch this book,” he expressed.
Defrief of “Janji Yang Tertinggal Di Ruang Gelap or A Promise Left in a Dark Room”
JANJI YANG TERTINGGAL DI RUANG GELAP is a story of the memory (memoir) about Ze, a 12-year-old young man, his life and death during the period of popular consultation in 1999. Based on a true story, this novel attempts to remember the names that have sometimes been lost in history. Often, we count the deaths as numbers and statistics in official reports. Hence, this novel attempts to distinguish and dignify humans in the referred statistics. Through short fragments, this novel presents Ze’s story alongside his schoolmates from the Indonesian occupation until his death in 1999.
Ze, a son of Agostinho Soares, a resistance figure from the village of Manapa, Administrative Post of Cailaco, Bobonaro Municipality. As a young man, Ze also went to school, had friends, and enjoyed his childhood life. However, sadness and fear sometimes appeared because his father participated in the clandestine Front. One day, with his conscience and courage, because his father was in the forest, he attempted to get involved in supporting the clandestine work, and chose the codename “Lelo Furak” to carry out some secret work.
With this, and as the Militia also could not find his father, finally he was murdered by the Pro-Autonomy militia replacing his father, in September 1999, in POLRES Maliana, leaving sadness and frustration to the families. This story attempts to recall the sadness, frustration, and lost feelings that are difficult to heal. It is not only about the loss of a son, brother, or a young brother, but it is also unknown where his remains are.
Finally, this novel even attempts to invite readers to remember that this independence is not only a struggle of the great heroes and names. There were even many children, like Ze, whom we sometimes forget to reveal their names. Many of them have justice, but many of them have none. Therefore, this novel is awakening us to remember their stories – as some victims, the first form of justice is not to be forgotten.
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