In 1991, New York journalists Amy Goodman and Allan Nairn risked their lives to tell the story of the East Timorese at a time when most Americans knew very little about the struggle of the people. They were arrested, detained and escaped. Their documentary, Massacre: The Story of East Timor won the coveted George Foster Peabody Award and a number of other national media awards.

Thanks to Amy, Allan and Pacifica Radio Archives (1-800-735-0230) for allowing GBGM to carry the full documentary, which you can hear by clicking at http://gbgm-umc.org/asia-pacific/east-timor/#massacre.

This year, Amy Goodman returned to cover the referendum on independence. She was denied entrance to East Timor, finding her name on a list of people who would not be allowed into the country. Allan Nairn, other journalists, church and NGO leadership were also on the list. Nairn managed to get into East Timor, but was arrested early in September and set for trial. The militia threatened to get him the death penalty. Back in New York, Amy and many concerned people in the U.S. waged a phone, fax and email campaign to the Congress, White House and State Department. On September 20th, we received word that Nairn has been released and is safe in Singapore.