Greetings, Aaron,
It is true that the situation in East Timor has made for one of the most
complicated political situations in the world. There is no doubt
that Indonesia unleashed a brutal genocidal policy of mass murder to
subdue the area, when it took contol over after the Portuguese left.
And the imperialist countries looked on in acceptance.
However, East Timor plays in some way for Indonesia, the same
disintegrating effect that Slovenian independence had for Yugoslavia.
This is no unimportant matter, though it is sluffed off as so by most
western Leftists.
To examine this in more detail, let us briefly visit a four paragraph
introduction to Indonesia, that can be found on the 'Lonely Planet'
site. It is illustrative, as I hope you will agree. Here it
is , and we can continue the analysis afterwards....
<DESTINATION INDONESIA>
The islands of the Indonesian archipelago stretch almost 5000km (3100mi)
from the Asian mainland into the Pacific Ocean. Richly endowed with
natural resources and hosting a phenomenal array of distinct cultures,
for centuries they have been a magnet to Chinese and Indian traders,
European colonisers, proselytising missionaries, wayward adventurers,
mining companies, intrepid travellers and package tourists.
The islands are inhabited by 300 ethnic groups with distinct cultures,
speaking 365 languages and dialects. Despite the national motto `unity
in diversity�, these cultures are under threat from Indonesianisation
as the islands are gradually unified under centralised Javanese rule.
The multicultural concept of strength in difference has been a hard one
to maintain in the face of such geographic and cultural fragmentation,
and the Indonesian government has opted for strong, centralised and
undemocratic rule.
The consolidation of the Indonesian empire has met with resistance and
insurgencies but these have largely been ignored by the international
community. The country was stable until the recent economic crisis,
mainly because political opposition was repressed and government
authority rested squarely on the foundation of military power. After
Suharto's downfall, second guessing the direction Indonesia would take
became every foreign correspondents' favourite pastime.
Increasing tensions between Muslims and Christians, ethnic tensions in
Kalimantan, and independence movements in Aceh and Irian Jaya certainly
don't augur well for the new Habibe government but it is the East
Timorese situation which buries any notion of a free and democratic
Indonesia. East Timor's vote for independence lit a match to the
inflammatory emotions of Indonesian nationalism. Patriotic militia went
on a scorched earth rampage around East Timor and the country descended
into chaos and martial law. An ugly brand of jingoism swept across most
of Indonesia and westerners became the brunt of much wounded pride. This
makes it a particularly unattractive travel destination for most western
travellers.
===============================
OK, what was contained in this brief blurb? First of all, has to be
the sheer scope of the problem. There are 300 ethnic groups with 365
languages, and multiple religions, also.
But what was presented as the problem? It was the central
government. They don't respect diversity, so says our liberal
blurb. Why? This Habibe is leader of an undemocratic
government.
A simple explanation, and true enough. But yet too simple.
Because even more disrespective of diversity are the colonizers, that
were briefly mentioned in passing, as being something that belonged to
the past.
But is that the way the Indonesian nation as a whole sees it? No.
And that's why the blurb states... that Indonesia is now a dangeous
place for First World adventurers, due to the resentment.
Why the resentment? Doesn't it have to do with the US/ Australia
lack of respect for Indonesian self determination. Why did the
central government try to homogenize the Indonesian archipelago?
It was due to that being seen as the only way to defend against
outsiders from the region, that would continue to make use of splits and
divisions to violate the area's self determination. This is seen by
Indonesians themselves as the central danger, not their extremely
disagreeable imperialist allied clique of a government.
Is it 'jingoism' to be upset over Australia's move into East Timor?
Just who is the imperialist country here?
I happen to belong to a political group in the US that printed up a
leaflet labelling Indonesia as being imperialist. UN troops under
Aussie control were seen as defending East Timor from Indonesian
imperialism!
On the marxism list, a similar style twist was made by a comrade calling
Russia a wannabe imperialist state (in his words)! What's that?
Isn't Russia the country being reduced down to Third World status by
imperialism?
That's why I included East Timor in my comments. The same style
illogic is at work here. Comrades are supporting self determination
for one group or another in a Third World nation, while the dominant
group in the region is itself under the gun from outside imperialist
forces.
Indonesia qualifies, as does Russia, as both are countries currently
being torn apart by imperialist adventurism, and not just bad capitalist
home governments. So it is important to talk about their self
determination, too. Not just that of the Chechens or East Timorese.
Comradely, Tony
_______________________________________________
Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base
To change your options or unsubscribe go to:
http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
