 Da Silva joined Fretilin in 1974 and was a founding member of the Fretilin External Branch in Lisbon.In 1976, Mr Da Silva interrupted his studies in Lisbon and was sent to Australia by the Fretilin leadership to lobby support for Timor Leste's independence struggle.During that time Australian supporters of Timor Leste's independence struggle (Campaign for Independence of East Timor - CIET) requested that Da Silva assist Neville Cunningham and António Belo operate a radio connection to the Fretilin leadership in Timor-Leste.