Along with another East Timor party, the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT), it signed the Balibo Declaration in 1975 calling for Indonesia to annex the region.

[3] In its original manifesto, the party called for "autonomous integration" into Indonesia while also declaring support for human rights and freedom of expression.

For support and funding from Indonesia, they used their position in society as traders, customs officials, and influential traditional leaders.

APODETI's first president was Arnaldo dos Reis Araújo [id], a 60-year-old cattle farmer who had collaborated with the Japanese invasion forces during World War II.

Araujo spent several months in Jakarta during 1974, where he met government officials who quickly found ways to support his organization.

[5] Echoing the sentiment that East Timor could not survive as an independent state, he professed a strong faith in Indonesia's willingness to help.

When APODETI leaders announced that 70 percent of the population endorsed integration, Indonesian officials repeated the claim and it became a staple of media reports in Jakarta.

This included ties to Kemak in what are now the municipalities of Ainaro and Bobonaro and northern and southern Tetum and Bunak on both sides of the borders.

He hated the artificial colonial border that divided his family and separated the east from the Laran spiritual center in Wehale.

[5] When FRETILIN proclaimed East Timor's independence from Portugal on November 28, 1975, Indonesia reacted by reporting that Dom Guilherme Gonçalves and Alexandrino Borromeo of APODETI and other opposition politicians had signed the so-called Balibo Declaration, which called for East Timor's annexation to Indonesia.

During the transition to independence, the party participated in the 2001 East Timorese parliamentary election where it received 2,181 votes (0.6%) and failed to gain a seat in the Constituent Assembly.

They insisted that the party still exists and fight for East Timor integration with Indonesia, which needs to be adapted to the circumstances of the times, that is, through referendum and not armed struggle.

Other goals were the creation of jobs, the advancement of the people and the support of war victims, such as widows, orphans, the elderly and those who were disadvantaged by their political work during the Indonesian occupation.

Laurentino Domingos Luis de Gusmão was the vice president of APODETI and a member of the National Council (NC).

After serving as a Portuguese civil servant, dos Santos worked in various government offices during Indonesia's rule and was deputy regent (wakil bupati) in Lospalos.

Other founding members were Abel da Costa Belo,[10] Pinto Soares, and Casimero dos Reis Araújo, son of Arnaldo.