Maubara
Encyclopedia
Maubara is a village in East Timor
and is a subdistrict of the district
of Liquiçá
, just west of the city of Liquiçá
.
During the beginning of the Portuguese occupation, it was taken by the Netherlands
. There is a historic Dutch
fort, located at the entrance to the village on the seaside overlooking the bay. The fort still contains the original cannon and is quite well preserved. Later, Portugal
negotiated with Holland and regained the site in a trade for Flores
, which was occupied by the Portuguese at that time.
The village is also the location in which the infamous Besi Merah Putih
militia was created. In 2000, on the western outskirts of the village, the UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
conducted sixteen exhumations in two days, most being victims of the Manuel Carrascalão House Massacre
.
Most of the inhabitants speak Tocodede
.
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
and is a subdistrict of the district
Districts of East Timor
||East Timor is divided into thirteen administrative districts. The districts are divided into subdistricts, and further subdivided into sucos.The borders between Cova-Lima and Ainaro and between Baucau and Viqueque were changed in 2003.-References:...
of Liquiçá
Liquiçá (district)
Liquiçá is one of the districts of East Timor. Its capital is also called Liquiçá.-Geography:Liquiçá District is situated on the northern coast of East Timor, and borders the districts of Dili to the east, Aileu to the Southeast, Ermera to the south, and Bobonaro to the southwest. To the...
, just west of the city of Liquiçá
Liquiçá
Liquiçá is a coastal city in East Timor, 32 km to the west of Dili, the national capital. Liquiçá is the capital of Liquiçá district...
.
During the beginning of the Portuguese occupation, it was taken by the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. There is a historic Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
fort, located at the entrance to the village on the seaside overlooking the bay. The fort still contains the original cannon and is quite well preserved. Later, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
negotiated with Holland and regained the site in a trade for Flores
Flores
Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an island arc with an estimated area of 14,300 km² extending east from the Java island of Indonesia. The population was 1.831.000 in the 2010 census and the largest town is Maumere. Flores is Portuguese for "flowers".Flores is located east of Sumbawa...
, which was occupied by the Portuguese at that time.
The village is also the location in which the infamous Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih , meaning 'red and white iron' in Indonesian, is the official name of a pro-Indonesia militia operating in the district of Liquiçá, and originating in the village of Maubara.- Acts of Murder, Torture and Intimidation :...
militia was created. In 2000, on the western outskirts of the village, the UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
The UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment was the common title for an elite investigative unit created in the war torn and newly liberated country of East Timor in November 1999, under the direction of the United Nations mission in East Timor, consisting of International Police, Australian Military Police...
conducted sixteen exhumations in two days, most being victims of the Manuel Carrascalão House Massacre
Manuel Carrascalão House Massacre
The Manuel Carrascalão House Massacre occurred on 17 April 1999 in Dili, East Timor, at the house of East Timorese independence leader Manuel Carrascalão. 12 people were killed by the pro-Indonesia Aitarak militia, commanded by Eurico Guterres, including Manuel's 17 year old son, Manelito...
.
Most of the inhabitants speak Tocodede
Tocodede
Tocodede is one of the languages of East Timor, spoken by about 65,000 people in the district of Liquiçá, especially the subdistricts of Maubara and Liquiçá along the Lois River. The number has declined in recent years...
.