As repercussões da intervenção de D. Martinho da Costa Lopes na Comissão de Direitos Humanos das Nações Unidas

After leaving Dili on 17 May 1983, the former Apostolic Administrator of Dili, Monsignor D. Martinho da Costa Lopes, went abroad to try to raise awareness of the tragic situation in which Timor-Leste found itself, after it became annexed by Indonesia on 7 December 1975. Almost eight months later, he went to the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission in Geneva, with the support of Pax Christi International. Monsignor D. Martinho da Costa Lopes was a pioneer of peace through self-determination and independence for Timor-Leste, which was only achieved in 1999.