The Santa Cruz Massacre Day remains among the most significant anniversaries for veterans of the Timorese independence movement, which was active during the Indonesian occupation between 1975 and 1999. In 1991, 271 protesters disappeared or were killed at the Santa Cruz cemetery in the Timor-Leste capital, Dili. That massacre sparked international outrage and kept the spotlight on the Indonesian occupation until it ended in 1999. The tone of the day remains mournful. During the occupation years, the Timorese often lit candles, and it was an occasion for public figures to rally the people. Discuss