Katherine Chloé Cahoon

This report contains candid images a United Nations ambassador gave me from footage that she swiftly tossed in her handbag as she fled from invading troops seeking her life. An Indonesian army was attacking Timor-Leste, a small Southeast Asian country, while she was overseeing the Timorese’ vote on independence after over 400 years of captivity. On May 20, Timor-Leste celebrates 22 years of sovereignty.

In 2018, I first studied this island nation while preparing to interview young Timor-Leste delegates for a CBS story covering their visit to the United States. That report went viral in their country, and the Timorese invited me to cover last year’s historic parliamentary election between two leaders considered resistance-era heroes. That time, my report trended internationally. This would not have been possible without the help of the Timorese and Debra Lee, the ambassador who risked her life in their vote for independence, and said, “They are the bravest people I’ve worked with.”