MIM NOTES 195	October 1, 1999

Democracy or hypocrisy?

by MC53 and MC17

In what was originally lauded as a 'model vote', the people of 
East Timor voted overwhelmingly for independence in the UN-
sponsored referendum on August 30th. The ballot choices were 
independence or autonomy. The vote for autonomy indicates support 
for continued ties with Indonesia as imperialism's neo-colony. The 
bourgeois press reported that autonomy would mean: "Indonesia 
would cede control of everything except defense, foreign 
relations, and some judicial and financial affairs."(1) The benign 
depiction of the vote for autonomy did not fool the masses though 
-- MIM and the masses fully understand that neo-colonial 
oppression would only continue under such a 'special status.'

The victory of independence in the vote was more than the free and 
fair election. At first, the bourgeois media reported few cases of 
violence and that the vote was going relatively well. This 
temporarily helped the imperialists to maintain the image of 
growing democracy in Indonesia. (That image is an important part 
of increasing capital export to Indonesia and increased 
exploitation of the masses there.)

Following 24 years of violence, and four months of violence since 
the UN-sponsored process started, the armed militias were 
intimidating East Timorese voters to vote for so-called autonomy. 
That an overwhelming majority (78.5%) still voted for independence 
underscores the terrorist rule of the Indonesian government and 
military and the East Timorese persistent struggle to end the 
occupation. Official counts report nearly 99% of the 450,000 
registered voters turned out in spite of the campaign of 
terrorism.

On paper, the referendum results can not take effect until a 
formal vote in the Indonesian legislature this fall. (This could 
be delayed even longer if handled by the imperialists and their 
lackeys.) The Indonesian legislature must vote to allow East 
Timorese independence, despite President B.J. Habibie's promises 
to recognize the will of the East Timorese. The intense violence 
following the vote demonstrates that it is not possible to hold a 
referendum under imperialist occupation and decisively achieve 
genuine freedom and self-determination. The imperialists and their 
lackeys do not give up power so easily. A vote merely gives the 
veneer of democracy. But the contradiction between the reality of 
repression and the TV image created has been exposed.

Maoist Protracted People's War most effectively combats 
imperialism

MIM supports the East Timorese people's right to self-
determination. But we learn from countries like Eritrea and East 
Timor that a strong proletarian communist party leading the 
independence struggle is necessary to end the death grip of 
imperialism. Throwing off one master does not mean independence 
has been won. To survive in the world order of international 
imperialism without being eaten up by the imperialists requires an 
organized leadership with the support of the people and a military 
that can defend its borders and its people.

If the vote is honored, the end of Indonesian dictatorship will be 
a real advance for the people of East Timor. We urge our brothers 
and sisters still waging this battle for independence for East 
Timor to study the lessons of history and build the necessary 
communist leadership that can turn this victory into lasting 
independence and socialism for the people of East Timor.

As written in the documents released by practitioners of Maoist 
Protracted People's War: "Mao's proletarian revolutionary line 
consistently runs from People's War and the new democratic 
revolution through socialist revolution and construction to the 
theory and practice of continuing revolution under the proletarian 
dictatorship." ... "The People's Wars and the revolutionary 
uprisings constitute the most advanced detachment of the struggle 
against the "New World Order." Objectively they are inflicting 
severe blows against imperialism, are showing that the people's 
resistance cannot be suppressed, and are strengthening the self-
confidence of the masses. [Protracted People's War] answers the 
central question of revolution, which is the seizure of political 
power."(2)

Inside the imperialist countries, MIM's role is to expose the 
devastating wrath imperialism has inflicted against oppressed 
peoples. MIM continues to strengthen our Party and build support 
for Marxism-Leninism-Maoism as the means to most effectively end 
imperialist exploitation. We urge readers and activists to join 
the long-term struggle against imperialism entire.

Notes:
1. The New York Times 31 August 1999, p. A3.
2. Excerpts reprinted in MIM Notes 180.