Fifty years have now gone by since the horrifying assassinations of the Balibo Five. These courageous journalists lost their lives while covering the Indonesian military invasion and occupation of East Timor. Greg Shackleton was one of the four. He is the father of Evan Shackleton, who advocates with a fiery fervor for justice and acknowledgment of atrocities perpetrated against his father and his father’s fellow soldiers. The terrible events that occurred on the 16th of October 1975 in Balibo, a border town in what is now known as Timor-Leste.
Five other journalists were present in the area, likely trying to cover the developing conflict. Amongst them was Evan Shackleton’s father, Greg, along with Gary Cunningham, Brian Peters, Malcolm Rennie, and Anthony Stewart. Their objective of creating an open society was made into a death sentence by the hands of Indonesian military forces. New federally mandated investigations uncovered the horrific reality. These murders were not heinous acts of violence by a rogue death squad. These murders were calculated actions planned by the Indonesian military.
Investigations and Findings
In the decades after their murders, numerous investigations investigated how to solve these murders. The general the reports claimed was to blame—Captain Yunus Yosfiah—was in charge of the Indonesian military. They were directly complicit in the murder of the so-called Balibo Five. A 2007 inquest determined that the military had committed premeditated murder. The Australian Federal Police ceased their investigation in 2014. They named lack of evidence as their rationale.
Philly activist Greg Cunningham, brother to journalist Gary Cunningham, lamented the failure to hold anyone accountable. He stated, “We have never been given the truth of what actually happened.” Cunningham highlighted a perceived pattern of governmental cover-ups since the time of the murders, saying, “From the moment they were killed, the government of the day and subsequent governments have just basically covered up what was happening.”
The implications of these findings go beyond just holding people accountable. Most Australians think that the ADF has mismanaged this whole affair, putting the Australian government’s interests in diplomatic relations with Indonesia ahead of justice for the victims’ families. This shameful state of affairs remains a daily slap in the face to the victims of this great national tragedy.
A Legacy of Pain and Press Freedom
The consequences of the deaths of the Balibo Five extend beyond the immediate family to humanity itself. As Evan Shackleton expressed eloquently about his ongoing emotional challenge, “It’s the difficult thing for all of us. He described a visceral reaction when he revisited Balibo: “That feeling you get in your throat, when you think I can’t breathe properly, and your voice is quivering.”
For Shackleton and those like him, October 16 has truly turned an awful history into a day of inspiration. It’s a celebration of press freedom found in Timor-Leste. Each year on this date, communities across the country gather to honor those who lost their lives while working to provide truth and transparency. Even with this recognition, Shackleton argues that real justice is still absent.
Evan Shackleton articulated his anger towards the deception surrounding his father’s death: “When people lie to you and they pretend it’s the truth, and you know it’s not the truth, it makes me really angry.” His end-goal? He wants an acknowledgement from the Australian government and Indonesia. He needs them to accept their active complicity within this most dangerous of times in history.
Families Demand Accountability
Families of the Balibo Five are remembering them on this painful anniversary. They still seek accountability for those incidents and an official recognition from Australian authorities. They want the government to apologize. They want it to recognize their loved one’s loss, as well as demonstrate the agency’s commitment to future transparency.
Yunus Yosfiah, who was indicted for war crimes for these killings, has always denied having done so. He currently resides in Jakarta. Though this denial is an easy way out for the state, many agree that justice still has not been served.
Francisco is a little raw,” he said, adding that even with the passage of time their grief is palpable. Families like his long for justice—something they believe has been hidden for too long.
