Following the Indonesian invasion in December 1975, Alas was one of the areas to which the FALINTIL resistance movement retreated, and the location of the South-Central resistance base ("base de apoio Centro Sul"). This base initially sheltered refugees from Manatuto, Same, Dili, Liquiçá, Ermera, Aileu and Ainaro, and in 1978 also received refugees from Turiscai In August 1978, the base was attacked by Indonesian forces. During the three-month siege which followed, many civilians were killed or died of hunger and thousands of East Timorese surrendered or were taken prisoner. Prisoners from Alas, as well as those from other regions such as Same, Fatuberlio, Turiscai, Maubisse, Aileu, Soibada und Natarbora, were interned in military camps in Selihassan or Same, or taken to temporary camps near Alas town: "Uma Metan" (the Black House), 400 metres south of Alas town; or "Lebos", 2 km to the Southwest. A further "settlement camp" was located in Besusu (Suco Uma Berloic).