Chantal Rumble – As East Timor celebrates its first year of independence, Batemans Bay human rights campaigner James Dunn has launched a book about the country's extraordinary road to freedom.

East Timor: A Rough Passage to Independence, was launched by NSW Premier Bob Carr in NSW Parliament House last night.

The extraordinary book tells the story of political intrigue and the secret deals which shaped the country for so many years, and the dedicated individuals, governments and international bodies who eventually freed the tiny nation from 450 years of foreign rule.

Mr Dunn, a regular Mercury columnist, is one of Australia's leading human rights campaigners and has lobbied for East Timor since he was a consul there 40 years ago. "It's always been a matter of conscience to write about Timor, " he said. "I know the awful consequences of war better than most people."

Last year, when East Timor at last stepped free of colonial rule, Mr Dunn was there beside the country's president, Xanana Gusmao. He was also introduced to Bill Clinton, but he said that was "no big deal". "To me it was walking among the people. It was happening and they were so excited. It brought tears to my eyes again and again," he said.

He witnessed the atrocities of the Indonesian invasion and lost many close friends in the bloodshed. He has seen individuals and governments lie, break promises, and betray the East Timorese people. But the hardship has only strengthened Mr Dunn's resolve to change things.

"One of the big lessons of the Timor situation [is that] you should never give up hope because something can really happen in the end. The end may take a long time but it's worthwhile waiting for," he said.