Anatomy of a Massacre (ATOM Study Guide)

Between 1974 and 1999 East Timor was engaged in a brutal civil war that was also a war for independence from Indonesia. Violence occurred at the community level throughout the entire period.

The violence of the civil war which started in Dili in 1975 quickly spread to other communities, pitting neighbours and even family members against each other.

The Indonesian military created extensive intelligence and paramilitary organisations whose members were involved in violations of human rights against people in their communities.

Anatomy of a Massacre follows an Australian-led forensic investigation to find the missing protestors from one of the violent events that occurred at this time, the 1991 Santa Cruz Cemetery Massacre in Dili, East Timor.

It explores aspects of the nature of scientific evidence, and issues associated with justice and accountability.

Curriculum Applicability

Anatomy of a Massacre can be used at middle and senior secondary levels in:

• Science
• Civics and Citizenship
• Legal Studies.