The struggle for independence in East Timor continues. Here we print parts of a letter from a Catholic priest which paints a grim picture of life under Indonesian occupation forces, The letter, dated November 1977, describes a reign of terror, mass killings and a genocide to come.

Fretilin, the movement for an independent East Timor, fights on, but against overwhelming odds. Fretilin soldiers who surrender are shot dead. For them, the letter says, there are no jails.

The letter was smuggled out by two nuns, Sister Natalia Grandado Moreira and Sister Mana Auxiliadora Hernandez, who formerly worked as dominican missionaries in East Timor. The name of the priest who wrote it has been withheld because, as he says himself, he is persona nongrata with the Indonesians and his life is in danger.

Translated from the Portuguese, the letter states:

It was with great happiness that I heard from you. I miss you very much. Well now, if you want me to speak about myself .... my spirit is so distraught as to be able to give only a poor picture of myself and of the reality of East Timor today. But I'm going to try. I'm thin like a toothpick, without shoes (and I'm not a carmelite) almost without any clothes, sick .... and much more.

Do you think I'm joking? When the war is over I'll tell you all, if I survive till then. Let's talk about more serious and important things.

First the war. It goes on with the same initial furore. Fretilin goes on fighting despite famine, sickness, death and the crisis in the leadership that happened in the last couple of months. The invaders have intensified their attacks in the three classic ways, by land, sea and air.

From 7 December 1975 till February 1976 they were anchored in Dili harbour - 23 warships which bombarded the hills around Dili 24 hours a day. The helicopters - eight to 12 - and the war planes - four - were flying all over Timor.

Inland there are countless tanks and armoured cars. The Indonesian troops in Timor might now be 50,000 (I'm not sure) In December 1976 there was an intense movement in the Dili harbour, unloading war materials and troops. From last December the war was intensified. The war planes don't stop all day long. There are hundreds of human beings who die daily. The bodies are food for the vultures.

If bullets don't kill us we die from epidemic disease, villages completely destroyed.

The war is entering its third year and it seems it won't stop soon. The barbarities (understandable in the stone age), the cruelties, the theft, the firing squads without any justification, are now part of everyday life in Timor. The insecurity is total and the terror of being arrested is our daily bread. (I'm on the list of persona non grata—any day they might make me disappear).

Fretilin troops who surrender are shot dead.: for them there are no jails. The genocide will be soon: it seems it is next December. The invaders are recruiting Timorese to go to fight their brothers who are in the bush. They are the ones who march in front of the battalions.

The political situation is undefined. The sabotage and the lies are spread out. Oppression is a reality. Integration is not the expression of the will of the people. The people controlled by the Indonesians are like mild sheep that you take to the abbatoir because of the oppressive character of the Indonesians

Against the force there is no resistance. Freedom is a word without meaning. The liberation that they announced means slavery. Timor is now back to the years 1945-50. Anti-communism is an Islamic slogan that means 'iconoclasm'.

The reform of the customs means the creation of cabarets and brothels. Commerce is just exploitation and the black market is normal. The Chinese sell themselves easily. Leaving the place is a dream. All correspondence is opened.

Oe-Cusse is now under the diocese of Atambua. Our residence. Bispo Medeiros, was destroyed by the fire of the invaders, Dare seminary destroyed, the catholic colleges of Maliana and Soibada destroyed. Timor was not integrated. It was annexed. It was not liberated from 'communism'. It was given to Islamic Indonesians. Freedom in any form does not exist."

The priest ends his letter with an appeal for help:

"Do something positive for the liberation of the Timor People. The world ignores us and it is a pity. We are on the way to a genocide. Till the end of December the war is to exterminate. All the valid youth of Timor is in the bush. The Indonesians only control villages in a radius of one to two kilometres. Ask the justice loving people to save Timor and pray to God to forgive the sins of the people of Timor. I am very tired and I have not the serenity to give you a more detailed picture of the reality of Timor in the past two years. We are all here very tired. A big embrace to all......."