MIM NOTES 195	October 1, 1999

East Timor: U$ and imperialism cause genocide, repression

by MC53 and MC17

On September 12, Indonesia's u.$.-puppet President B.J. Habibie 
conceded to the use of possibly 7,000 foreign troops under the 
guise of ending the violence against East Timorese.(1) As many as 
200,000 East Timorese have been driven out of their territory, and 
there have been reports that 10,000 have been killed (1) following 
their vote for independence on August 30th. The widespread 
violence perpetrated by the imperialist-backed Indonesian military 
and reactionary militias has demonstrated once again that freedom 
for the toiling masses can only be achieved by rising up and 
demolishing the imperialist system.

President Habibie suggested and arranged the August 30 referendum 
in East Timor -- a territory that has been under Indonesian 
control since its 1975 invasion. Since invading East Timor, 
imperialist-backed Indonesia has massacred more than one third of 
the population. The East Timorese have waged a strong battle for 
independence and have been met with massacres of the masses and 
assassination, imprisonment and repression of independence 
leaders. Only after 24 years of bloodshed has the Indonesian 
government suggested a referendum.

The imperialists and their fascist lackeys have retained economic, 
military and political control over East Timor, resulting in the 
further impoverishment of the masses. Extraction of surplus value 
from the masses and pillage of East Timorese natural resources 
have been the norm. With this track record it is no surprise the 
people did not vote to remain under imperialist-backed Indonesian 
control. Yet now that the East Timorese people have voted their 
will, the imperialist-armed Indonesian military has renewed its 
genocidal efforts against them.

Habibie jumped on the Australian and Amerikan imperialist 
publicity bandwagon: blame the militias for violence, appear 
concerned about the welfare of the East Timorese and avoid 
responsibility for genocide and repression of the East Timorese. 
Now, with increased pressure to stop the violence, the 
imperialists and their comprador lackey Habibie are smoothing over 
more than two decades of violence against the East Timorese by 
preparing a United Nations occupation force.

Though Australia prepares to lead the UN so-called peace-keeping 
troops and the United Snakes has publicly stated that it opposes 
the ongoing violence, it is the imperialists that are responsible 
for the slaughter of East Timorese. It is the imperialists who are 
responsible for denying the East Timorese genuine self-
determination and freedom.

For more than two decades, the imperialists have armed, trained 
and funded the fascist Indonesian regime. Imperialist economic and 
military interests in Indonesia necessitate a militarist comprador 
class. Compradors (informally called lackies or puppets) pave the 
way for imperialist export of capital, exploitation, and resource 
extraction from neo-colonies. A comprador class is defined by the 
kickbacks it receives from its imperialist masters in exchange for 
ensuring favorable conditions for imperialist nation corporations.

Death squads in Latin America and reactionary militias in East 
Timor and elsewhere serve the imperialist and compradors by 
carrying out genocide and political repression as needed. This 
reactionary section of the Indonesian population does not 
represent the vast majority of Indonesians; the masses of 
Indonesia have also been repressed in political organization to 
help guarantee imperialist profits and military positioning.

Though many reports show independence supporters in East Timor 
calling for a UN force, this is not a call we in the imperialist 
countries can echo. As a Maoist party in the united snakes, it is 
MIM's job to point out the u.$. history of perpetuating slaughter 
and re-colonization of oppressed nations under the guise of 
keeping the peace. The current situation in East Timor is a 
product of Amerikan crimes against the people. The genocide and 
exploitation of East Timorese, Filipinos, Azanians, Peruvians, 
Indigenous nation members, members of the Black nation and Atzlan, 
and the exploited Indonesian masses as well -- will only cease 
when we smash imperialism entirely. MIM calls on all good-
intentioned liberals to definitively take a stand against 
imperialism and U.$. militarism. And we call on all anti-
imperialists to focus unwavering efforts to build opposition to 
the core problem -- imperialism.

Notes:
1. The New York Times 13 September 1999, p. A1.