MIM Notes 186 May 15 1999

East Timor independence fighters resume armed struggle

Providing further evidence that the imperialists will not give up 
their power peacefully, in East Timor the masses have been forced 
to take up armed struggle for independence again in response to 
terrorist attacks by Indonesian-backed armed groups.

This happened just three months before a vote on the status of 
East Timor was scheduled to take place. Many people believed this 
vote would lead to a peaceful resolution of the fight over control 
of East Timor between the Timorese people and the Indonesian 
government which has been going on since Indonesia invaded East 
Timor in 1975.

The East Timor rebel leader, Xanana Gusmao, called for an end to 
the two-month cease-fire in early April after government-backed 
militias attacked the people, killing civilians and forcing people 
to flee their homes.(1)

On April 17th these militias took control of the streets of Dili, 
the capital of East Timor, with reports of many people wounded and 
at least 13 deaths. The militia burned homes, shot into buildings 
and attacked civilians. The Indonesian military and police, 
occupying East Timor, provided water and cigarettes to the 
paramilitary troops.(2)

Reports suggest that the attacks began at the home of pro-
independence leader Manuel Carrascalao who leads the Movement for 
the Reconciliation and Unity of the People of East Timor. The 
paramilitary troops attacked Cararscalao's house using automatic 
weapons they got from the Indonesian army.(2)

After the fall of General Suharto, the military ruler of 
Indonesia, prospects for independence of East Timor have appeared 
promising. B.J. Habibie, Suhartos successor, was personally 
trained by Suharto and does not represent a significant change in 
the government. But the unrest in Indonesia has made it 
increasingly difficult for the government to continue its war 
against the people of East Timor and maintain control at home. 
Habibie has said that he will consider independence for East Timor 
and Indonesia agreed to a UN-supervised vote that would give East 
Timorese residents a choice between autonomy (i.e. continued 
Indonesian involvement and control) or full independence.

The Indonesian occupying army is quite strong in East Timor and 
many believe they could stop these recent paramilitary attacks if 
they wanted to. But they have not acted and this should not be 
surprising considering that these militia groups are just another 
branch of the Indonesian military. In fact, the Indonesian 
government has not even tried to deny their funding and support 
for these groups.

The u.s. military and economic support of the Indonesian 
government makes it all the more important that people in Amerika 
support the right of the East Timorese people to self-
determination. (Check out MIM's website for earlier articles 
detailing the economic, military and political control over the 
Indonesian and East Timorese people by the United Snakes of 
Imperialism -- mostly through the propping up of compradors 
leading the Indonesian government.)

Notes:
1. Boston Globe, April 7, 1999, p.A2.
2. East Timor Action Network Press Release, April 19, 1999.