Francisca Fanggidaej

(Timor, 1925) is a journalist, co-founder and member of the board of the Stichting Azië Studies (Foundation Asian Studies), a foundation that interprets scientifically the situation in Asian countries and publishes the findings. She is the daughter of a civil servant that worked for the Dutch and at home was only alowed to speak Dutch. After the second world war Fanggidaej became active in the Indonesian struggle for independence. In 1949 she became chairwoman of the youth organization Pemuda Rakyat. Shortly after that she started her career as a journalist, which allowed her travel throughout the whole world. In 1957 she took a place in the Indonesian People's Congres as representative of the journalists. In that function she was sent to Chile in 1965 to attend a congres of the International Journalist Organization. During this trip the coup in Indonesia took place and she was unable to return to her country. As an exile she first lived in China for twenty years. Since 1985 she lives and works in the Netherlands.
WIN2003