ABSTRACT
The late 1970s: survival and nation-building in the zonas libertadas Following the Indonesian invasion of 7 December 1975, FRETILIN and a large proportion of the civilian population, possibly 300,000 (CAVR 2005, 3: 70), retreated from the northern coast into the interior. In extremely difficult conditions, FRETILIN controlled substantial territory until 1978. Within these zonas libertadas, a debate raged within FRETILIN between those seeking to continue a social revolution with the character of a ‘people’s war’, and others including do Amaral and military figures arguing for the surrender of the civilians (CAVR 2005, 5: 2). This debate remained unresolved when the zonas libertadas were ultimately overwhelmed by the Indonesian advance (Fernandes 2011: 46). Within these zones, civilians provided logistical and other support to FRETILIN and FALINTIL troops in the bases de apoio (support bases) (CAVR 2005, 3: 71).
