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Our man Suharto

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Sunday September 5, 1999

East Timor has massively voted for independence, a result not in doubt for weeks. But the island is being ravaged, not by freelance para-militaries or spontaneously created militias, but by armed thugs directed by the Indonesian military. Indonesia may have accepted the referendum, but its generals are vandalising the territory as an act of political revenge. Inevitably, now that the authority of the United Nations and the democratic wishes of the Timorese are being so brazenly ignored, the international community has nervously begun to consider what can be done.
The resolution which was apparent in the Kosovo crisis appears to have vanished. Instead of responding vigorously to the testing of international law, Western politicians mumble that Indonesia is an emerging democracy. They forget that last year's revolution was partial. General Suharto, the West's favourite dictator, was removed but his coercive apparatus was largely undisturbed. The armed forces remain a law to themselves. The UN Security Council is desperate to avoid sending a peace-keeping force to the island, even though the march of events may force its hand. In truth, the UN should have acted sooner and more effectively.

But if the West will not back it, then other leverage must be found. A useful start could be made by acknowledging that Britain and the United States bear a special responsibility for the Indonesian tragedy. Suharto's invasion of the independent territory of East Timor and the massacres that followed were sanctioned by the West. Britain is the generals most generous arms supplier. They would suffer if they were subject to an arms embargo, but for that to happen New Labour must drop the pretence that the weapons it sells to Jakarta are not used in internal repression.

Follow Ups:

• to BOY C-this is old news from guardian an english white reporter prove my posting concerning US&Suharto is correct justice 09:42:28 9/30/99 (4)
  • If what you're saying is true, this only proves one thing..... BOY C 18:20:18 9/30/99 (3)
    • If Japan, Aussy, Taiwan etc are under US control, vice versa Indonesia! justice 14:32:41 10/01/99 (2)
      • Australia Bleu 12:24:52 10/02/99 (0)
      • Let the world decide which is a better place to live in.... Smiley 14:56:30 10/01/99 (0)

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