Masculinities, Violence and Power in Timor Leste

Abstract

This article sketches some of the manifestations of violent masculinities which were visible in the Timor Leste conflict from 1975 to 1999. While concentrat-ing on Timorese actors, it points out that this does not in any way mean thatTimorese men are inherently more violent than others. In fact, the vast majorityof the acts of violence during the conflict were committed by members of theoccupying Indonesian security forces. After a brief thematic and historical intro-duction, the article examines manifestations of violent masculinities within thepro-independence Falintil guerrilla, the pro-Indonesian militias and the civilianpopulation.As the end of the conflict has not meant an end to, but a “domestication”of violence with extremely high rates of domestic and gender-based sexual vio-lence, the article further examines the impact of the post-conflict situation onviolent manifestations of masculinity.