The Contribution of Uma Lulik to National Liberation
3. The Contribution of Uma Lulik to National Liberation
As a system of polytheistic belief the uma lulik also provides the means for traditional oracles (bringing luck and predicting the future) through divination using Betel chewing or reading the entrails, BUTI SURIK ISIN, of chickens, pigs, goats and buffalo and also to take traditional leaders to be the Liurai. Uma lulik also contributed to the process of Independence through providing protective amulets (birun) which were obtained at the uma lulik to protect warriors in battle during the resistance period.
Just as our Leader Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão (Kay Rala is the name of the totem house of Xanana’s mother) during the resistance period obtain his protective amulet from the main uma lulik of Berelaka on the top of Mount Kablaki to protect and hide he and his Falintil comrades with clouds to be able to pass through the midst of their enemies without their enemies knowledge.
At the beginning of 1999 the community of Lenuk Hun Kameia in the sub-district of Cristo Rei conducted a Toli Mate traditional ritual ceremony at the uma lulik Bilese, with the objective for determining when Timor-Leste would achieve Independence. The divination indicated that it would be a further three years (1999-2002) before Timor-Leste would achieve its Independence and this indeed became reality.
During the resistance period the custodians of many uma lulik abandoned them until the fell into disrepair, because they were all wiped out or in some cases survived with a real desire to pass on again their inheritance from the Ancestors and to re-establish their uma lulik or uma fukun, but did not have then means (the economic and customary systems were no longer favorable) to be able to reconstruct them. Many of the uma lulik in question were burned or destroyed by the enemy with an impact on many of the sacred objects (gold, silver, Belak –metal crest shaped ornament worn on the chest by a man, kaibauk – crescent shaped headpiece or crown, fugadór - necklace of gold and coral beads, carta patente – letters of commission, military or otherwise, rota – rattan cane marking authority, surik - swords etc.) of intangible value were lost to the present day.
Because of the excessive happiness once National Liberation was achieved the uma lulik as the principal wealth of out culture became a concern of all people. Thus almost the entire population demonstrated their tangible and intangible customary value by reconstructing their uma lulik with pride, which has truly enriched the entire territory. These ideas and attitudes are a great honor for Timor-Leste’s Independence.
The traditional architecture of the uma lulik and the beautiful carvings, site of traditional oracles and traditional fortresses have deep aesthetic, artistic and historical value that we need to protect and enrich because these things are very important for the next generations of Timor, and their traditions, sciences, history, art, ethnography, traditional dances, folklore, identity, humanism, nature and belief in God. When the community restore the heritage of their uma lulik and their various types of traditional architecture, beautiful carvings and sculptures, it will bring further great advantages in giving rise to individual talent and increasing and enriching cultural activities because they will enable us to attract people from overseas (i.e. tourists) to come and invest their capital and create employment to build the economy of our country and bring the benefits of improved livelihood.
Traditional values from the uma lulik can become a means to filter cultures from other countries which may not be good to integrate, enrich and make abundant in our own culture.
According to the spirit and conscience of customs other people who do not have family relationships cannot provide material or financial assistance to build some else’s uma lulik.
Because of this the tangible and intangible values of uma lulik are without measure.