Remembering John M. Miller, International Solidarity, and the Struggles Continue!

  Liga ba blog ida-nee iha lian Tetum 

With deep respect and sorrow, the people of Timor-Leste received the news of the passing of John M. Miller—co-founder and National Coordinator of the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network/U.S. — an activist who, for decades, dedicated his life to human rights, justice, and the self-determination of the Timorese people.

ETAN was founded in 1991, following the Santa Cruz Massacre, amid grave human rights violations that required an urgent response from the international community. Through campaigns, civil society mobilization, and political advocacy in the United States and at the United Nations, ETAN helped to amplify Timor-Leste’s voice to the world and build international solidarity.

John M. Miller was not an activist who wanted fame. His quiet yet impactful work—organizing solidarity networks, sharing reliable information, and connecting people at various levels—contributed to a shift in international awareness and strengthened networks supporting Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste’s independence was the result of a long and complex struggle: FRETILIN leadership, FALINTIL armed resistance, clandestine networks, international diplomacy, global solidarity—including the East Timor Action Network—and geopolitical changes in the region, Indonesia, and the world. International solidarity strengthened the struggle, making Timor-Leste a success story of collective struggle in the world.

At the strategic level, John Miller’s contributions to ETAN involved political advocacy, community-level campaigns, and engagement with political institutions to help influence discussions and decisions within the U.S. government and the international arena. His work demonstrates that international solidarity can be a transformative force when organized with evidence, strategy, discipline, and persistence.

The people of Timor-Leste’s right to self-determination stems from the universal principles of the United Nations, and John Miller, along with other international solidarity activists, helped to turn this principle into political reality on the global stage.

After independence, ETAN continues to support Timor-Leste on issues such as justice, accountability, human rights, and democratic development, including the struggle over the maritime border between Australia and Timor-Leste, which the people of Timor-Leste have been fighting for years — showing that solidarity is not just a temporary gesture, but a long process. John and ETAN continue to advocate for the self-determination of West Papua.

John’s contributions have been recognized by the State of Timor-Leste through a national honor. But his legacy extends beyond the medal to the network of solidarity he helped create, to the people he inspired, and to the global struggle for human rights.

In a world that still faces injustice, the memory of John M. Miller offers a moral compass:

Those who have the freedom to speak out have a responsibility to act, especially when their own government acts against people’s rights.

For the people of Timor-Leste, John is not only a friend but a part of the history of the victorious struggle.

Solidarity does not die. Memory does not fade. We must all continue on the path of justice.

The Struggles Continue.