After
years of struggle, August 1999 finally saw a vote of self-determination
in East Timor. Despite
intense intimidation from Indonesian troops to discourage voting, the
overwhelming majority of East Timorese called for independence (75% of
the 99% turn-out). As
a result, the Indonesian military-backed militia went on a terror campaign.
Much of East Timor was destroyed and approximately 200,000 to 300,000
refugees were created. Jakarta
declared martial law in East Timor and the killings, massacres, rapes,
burnings and lootings continued. As
refugees poured into West Timor, so did the militia trying to hunt them
down. It
was a tactical move to lure people into the neighbouring country, which,
unlike East Timor, is part of Indonesia. As
well as fleeing from East Timor to West Timor, many escaped into the hills
where humanitarian aid could not reach them. And
once again, the international community, especially those who supported
and backed the Indonesian regime, were easily able to exert pressure on
Jakarta to stop this violence, yet they were slow to do so. Australian-led
UN peacekeeping forces finally landed in Dili, East Timor in October 1999
after the US, UK and others stopped aid to Indonesia. It
was no coincidence that the Indonesian legislature then ratified the East
Timorese vote on 20 October, 1999, allowing East Timor to officially become
an independent nation. Washington
and London were clearly still influencing Jakarta while the East Timorese
were forced to bear more violence and suffering. Two
weeks after the Australian landing, troops had not even made it out of
Dili.
There has been talk of the IMF and World Bank offering help in the building
and rebuilding of the nation of East Timor.
But this will simply result in the loans and economic policies that have
lead to poverty in Vietnam and all around the world. And
to this day, the return of refugees (as many as 100,000 are still unaccounted
for), the end of militia activity and prosecution of rights violators
are all outstanding priorities.
The East Timorese in West Timor continue to face oppression and human
rights abuses which are hidden from journalists and the UN peacekeeping
forces who are only allowed into East Timor.
Annexed from their own, now independent, nation they are still the prisoners
of Indonesia, still fighting for freedom. |