Mahidi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mahidi |
|
|---|---|
Mahidi t-shirt lettering
|
|
| Leader(s) | Câncio Lopes de Carvalho |
| Foundation | December 1998 |
| Dates of operation | 1999–2000 |
| Country | East Timor |
| Motives | Prevention of East Timor's independence |
| Headquarters | Ainaro, East Timor |
| Active regions | East Timor |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Major actions |
|
| Notable attacks | Timor-Leste Scorched Earth campaign |
| Status | Defunct |
The Mahidi was a group in East Timor that was very loyal to Indonesia. Its name means Live and Die with Indonesia. This group was formed by people who had lost land or power in the past. Some also had worked with the Japanese during World War II.
The Mahidi group started in December 1998. It mostly operated in the Cassa area, which is in the southern part of the Ainaro district. This area was important because it connected the Manufahi, Ainaro, and Cova Lima districts. Mahidi was involved in the 1999 East Timorese crisis. They were known as one of the most violent groups during that time. They were linked to a very sad event called the Suai Church massacre, where many people lost their lives. They were also involved in other harmful actions.
Mahidi's Beginnings and Leaders
The main leader of the Mahidi group was Câncio Lopes de Carvalho. In December 1998, he brought back a youth group he had led before. This group supported East Timor staying with Indonesia. He renamed it Mahidi.
On January 1, 1999, the Mahidi group had a special ceremony in Ainaro. Important Indonesian police and military leaders were there. Some people say that some members were forced to join Mahidi. Câncio's brother, Nemecio, was an intelligence officer for the group. Mahidi was formed because more and more people in Ainaro wanted East Timor to be independent. Some houses had even been burned down.
By April 1999, Mahidi had between 1,000 and 2,000 members. They also had about 500 firearms. Carvalho once told the BBC that he received a weapon from the military in Ainaro.
Where Mahidi Operated
Mahidi's main base was in Cassa, Ainaro, in the southern part of the area. They had smaller groups in every village in Ainaro. Another important center was set up in Manutaci by Daniel Pereira. Some of the group, led by Vasco da Cruz, also moved into the nearby area of Cova Lima.
Actions and Aftermath
Throughout 1999, the Mahidi members were involved in many violent actions during what was called Operation Guntur. People who work to protect human rights say Mahidi did many harmful things. These violent actions finally stopped when an international force called INTERFET arrived.
After this, Carvalho went to West Timor in Indonesia. He lived in camps there. He asked the Indonesian government for help, saying he had served Indonesia loyally.
In January 2000, Carvalho, still very loyal to Indonesia, threatened to burn down the city of Kupang. He said he would do this if Indonesia forced East Timorese refugees to go back to East Timor. In October 2000, Carvalho also said he had sent some of his men back to East Timor for small, surprise attacks. At the same time, he offered to tell the Secretary General of the United Nations about Indonesia's involvement in the 1999 violence. In return, he wanted to be allowed to return to East Timor without punishment. The UNTAET said no to his offer. By October 2001, many members had already returned to East Timor. This included 378 refugees led by Nemecio Lopes de Carvalho, who was a deputy leader of Mahidi.
Later, some Mahidi members faced accusations for their actions. This included leaders like Vasco da Cruz, Câncio Lopes de Carvalho, his brother Nemecio, and Orlando Baptista. These accusations were about harmful actions against people, such as causing deaths and forcing people from their homes. However, at that time, all the accused were in Indonesia, not East Timor.
