Re: M-TH: Gusmao and East Timor

[THE WORLD SOCIALIST MOVEMENT(via THE SOCIALIST PARTY of Great Britain)]

Dear George,

----------
> The fact that Gusamao has apparently asked the remaining Indonesians
settlers to
> stay in East Timor is an indication of the reactionary politics of this
man.
> Again nationalism betrays the cause it is supposed to promote. He is only
some
> days back in East Timor and already he is selling out. It would be
interesting
> to hear from comrades on this list what the East Timorese resistance
> movement's programme is --more and more help from Washington I suppose.
>
How could he not sell out? He is the nominee of a certain bloc of capital
to run the area, much as happened with that Kosovan intellectual who sprang
out of nowhere, unelected. It is not that the person is there to rpresent
"their people" but to provide the necessary political interface between
rulers and ruled. The British empire, during decolonisation, had a very
simple ploy: anyone causes trouble, lock 'em up. If there is an uproar to
release them, then they are the new rulers. Kwame Nkrumah was an excellent
example of this strategy. Capitalism is, by and large, about the great mass
of people participating in their own exploitation, and this requires that
legitimacy be provided. They could be offered Mickey Mouse, if that was
popular, and vote for him; what matters is that there is legitimacy.

Simon


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