KOEPANG, TIMOR. 1946-02-17. Freedom movement sympathisers who disembarked from Esperance Bay

KOEPANG, TIMOR. 1946-02-17. A GROUP OF FIM (FREE INDONESIA MOVEMENT?) SYMPATHISERS WHO ELECTED TO DISEMBARK FROM THE TRANSPORT SHIP ESPERANCE BAY RATHER THAN RETURN TO BATAVIA. INITIALLY DEPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA THEY HAD LIVED ON SAMAOE ISLAND FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE MONTHS. THE WINDING UP OF THE AUSTRALIAN PRESENCE ON TIMOR COUPLED WITH THEIR PROBABLE IMPRISONMENT BY THE NETHERLANDS INDIES ADMINISTRATION NECESSITATED THEIR REMOVAL FROM KOEPANG TO THE CONTROL OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIA COMMAND (SEAC).