Black Columns

The conflict on Timor became a prolonged struggle, with local and Allied guerrilla fighters engaging Japanese forces throughout the war.

The Japanese took advantage of existing anti-colonial sentiments among the Timorese, who had long been under colonial rule by the Portuguese and the Dutch.

By exploiting these resentments, the Japanese were able to recruit and organize local forces like the Colunas Negras to bolster their military presence and maintain control over the island during the conflict.

[1]: 14  Japan once blamed the incidents on a "group of West Timorese" who wanted to fight for the Japanese and resettle in the east.

However, the navy's records are largely lost, so one can only make assumptions about the involvement of Pro-Japanese Timorese elements (Ōtori) during this time.

During this time, the Colunas Negras received reinforcements from Timorese from the Portuguese Dili, Aileu, Manufahi, Ossu and Lautém, who increasingly restricted the Australians.

At the end of the year, the Allies were attacked in Viqueque and Baucau by Colunas Negras from Lautém, and in January 1943, the Japanese and thousands of collaborators attacked the Australians in southeast Timor, which also led to the end of the guerrilla action in February and numerous casualties among the Timorese on both sides.