E. Timor's Falintil guerrilla army marks 25th anniversary

E. Timor's Falintil guerrilla army marks 25th anniversary

AILEU, East Timor - East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao attends a ceremony in Aileu, East Timor, on Aug. 20 marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National Liberation Armed Forces of East Timor (Falintil). He turned over his post as commander in chief of the guerrilla army to his deputy, Taur Matan Ruak, at the event. The army was formed to wrest East Timor's independence from Indonesia, which annexed the territory as a province in 1976.

Thousands of E. Timorese meet liberation army

Thousands of E. Timorese meet liberation army

UAI MORI, East Timor - More than 15,000 pro-independence East Timorese and guerrilla fighters gather Aug. 20 in Uai Mori, about 150 kilometers northwest of the capital Dili, to mark their first public appearance in 24 years ahead of the historic Aug. 30 referendum on independence. Soldiers hoist the flag of the separatist National Liberation Army (Falintil), which has been leading a guerrilla war against the occupying Indonesian military since 1975.

E. Timor's Falintil guerrilla army marks 25th anniversary

E. Timor's Falintil guerrilla army marks 25th anniversary

AILEU, East Timor - East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao attends a ceremony in Aileu, East Timor, on Aug. 20 marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National Liberation Armed Forces of East Timor (Falintil). He turned over his post as commander in chief of the guerrilla army to his deputy, Taur Matan Ruak, at the event. The army was formed to wrest East Timor's independence from Indonesia, which annexed the territory as a province in 1976.

Thousands of E. Timorese meet liberation army

Thousands of E. Timorese meet liberation army

UAI MORI, East Timor - More than 15,000 pro-independence East Timorese and guerrilla fighters gather Aug. 20 in Uai Mori, about 150 kilometers northwest of the capital Dili, to mark their first public appearance in 24 years ahead of the historic Aug. 30 referendum on independence. Soldiers hoist the flag of the separatist National Liberation Army (Falintil), which has been leading a guerrilla war against the occupying Indonesian military since 1975.