By Tova O’Brien
A memorial has been unveiled in Wellington this morning to remember New Zealand cameraman Gary Cunningham who was killed along with four Australia-based journalists in East Timor in 1975.
The event has led to renewed calls for the Government to do more to bring their killers to justice.
Wellington's Charles Plimmer Park has two new additions, but for family and friends of Mr Cunningham, today was about much more than a Pohutukawa and park bench.
“So many of a generation of our family not being able to have this sort of event, so it's fantastic that we can all get together to remember him, but also say goodbye,” says Gary’s brother Greg.
Gary Cunningham was just 26-years-old when he and four of his colleagues were deliberately killed in East Timor by Indonesian Special Forces.
Until the release of an Australian coroner's report three years ago, Indonesia maintained the men were shot in cross fire.
“It was only last year that the Australian government launched a war crimes investigation,” says Tim Pankhurst. “We've just had one of the Indonesian soldiers involved admitting that, yes, they did kill these news men.”
Their story has been given greater scope with the recent release Balibo – an Australian film banned in Indonesia.
Already this year, 13 journalists have been killed on the job around the world; last year it was more than 70.
“People don't realise when they watch the news sitting in the comfort of their lounge room that there's some fool out there who's there within firing distance, but the point is this is the truth how else are you going to know the news,” says Greg Cunningham.
While today was a day for remembering, it was also a time to reinvigorate demands for government responsibility.
“Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK, all connived in covering up Indonesia's invasion of the former Portuguese colony,” Mr Pankhurst says.
But after waiting more than three decades, it could be longer yet.
The New Zealand Government has no plans to take any action, but says it's watching the Australian investigation closely.
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