Cristo Rei (Christ the Redeemer) statue on the hill overlooking Dili harbour, Timor Leste

They say a week is a long time in politics. This could not be more true of this extraordinary week we have just had.

On Saturday when I wrote last week’s blog post, the world was collectively holding their breath to see the outcome of the US presidential elections. Gun shops had run out of supplies. People were nervous, exhausted from anxiety and worried that the outcome would end up as a civil war in the streets.

By Sunday night it was clear that it was going to be a close call. By Monday there was hope and now as I write this democracy has returned to the US issued in with a message from the president elect, Joe Biden to keep calm, which seems to be working.

I’ve been thinking of all these things this week as November 11 rolled around, the Whitlam dismissal always an event to remember in Australian democracy. It is also NAIDOC week, a time to recognise and celebrate Indigenous Australians, but also a time to reflect on all the actions still needed to be taken to address injustice, racism and inequality.

What this week and past years has shown us is never take democracy and human rights for granted. In 2004 I was part of a friendship delegation that travelled to Timor Leste. It was only a year after their independence from Indonesia and celebrations were being prepared.

Everywhere on the streets and foreshore of Dili harbour was the evidence of a country covering from war. Tanks ad military vehicles rusted out and being cleared away. Graffiti on the street walls, UNHCR shelters in city blocks to house the displaced and homeless.

We walked to the statue of Christ the Redeemer statue on the hill, standing on top of the world with arms outstretched. It was erected there by the Indonesians in an attempt to dissuade Timor Leste from gaining their independence from Indonesia. Instead the Timorese risked their lives and militia violence to line up and vote the Indonesians out of their country. Democracy hard won after 30 years of occupation.

The statue stands on top of a globe showing Timor Leste, so close in geographical proximity to the map of Australia. Always a friend to Australia during World War 2 and still struggling for justice over the maritime boundaries that give Australia the lions share of the wealth from the gas fields in the Timor strait.

The words on a blackboard sum it up for me - remember so that East Timor and the world never forget.