The church played an important role in the independence struggle . On 27 October 1991 , young independence activists tried to demonstrate against the Indonesian occupation . While the Indonesian security forces ran after them , pastor Alberto Ricardo da Silva offered them protection in the church . At night , the Indonesians stormed the church and shot activist Sebastião Gomes , who then bled to death . On 12 November 1991 , after the memorial service for Gomes , a demonstration started in front of the church and led to the Santa Cruz massacre , in which at least 271 people were killed by Indonesian security forces
Santa Cruz massacre
Santa Cruz massacre
Motael Church