This paper examines the way the notion of sacrifice is used to reclaim national belonging and entitlements. I particularly focus my discussion on pro‐Indonesian East Timorese who left East Timor and decided to stay in West Timor after their historic referendum. The East Timorese experience of violent colonisation, military occupation, family breakdown and separation might help explain the existence of their sacrificial narratives. But I argue that such narratives evoke life histories and shared memories, which, in turn, entail the intention of displaced East Timorese to maintain an intimate relationship with their homeland and ensure a better future for their society.

中文翻译：

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分开是为了维持：在西帝汶的东帝汶人中牺牲和民族归属

本文研究了牺牲概念用于夺回国家所有和应享权利的方式。我的讨论特别关注亲印尼的东帝汶人，他们在历史性的全民公决之后离开了东帝汶并决定留在西帝汶。东帝汶人在暴力殖民，军事占领，家庭破裂和分居方面的经历可能有助于解释其牺牲性叙述的存在。但是我认为，这样的叙述唤起人们的生活历史和共同的回忆，这反过来又意味着流离失所的东帝汶人打算与他们的祖国保持亲密关系，并确保他们的社会有更美好的未来。