The Timorese were clearly shaken by this attack on their flagship church. It should be noted that the Catholic Church is the only Timorese institution. All others have been obliterated on orders of the army high command. There are no Timorese unions or press, peasant leagues, political parties, or student groups. Their leaders have been executed and their existence banned.
Social organization can only take place under the army's control.
Public speech and assembly are prohibited by army fiat. This means that the civic life of the East Timorese must be conducted underground. Gomes's funeral was a breakthrough event because people turned out and dared to speak. The commemorative procession on November 12 was even larger and more outspoken. As the mass broke up, people assembled on the street.