Urgent call for action on East Timor

The massive rejection of the Indonesian occupation of East-Timor in a UN sponsored referendum is being challenged by what the BBC correctly described as a "full scale military uprising". The pro-integration militias, who are just an extension of the Indonesian Army (TNI) now are occupying the whole of East-Timor. They are deporting the local population who voted for independence by tens of thousands. By hacking, burning and shooting they are terrorising the Maubere people out of their villages and cities. Their aims are clear: the military reoccupation of East-Timor and the liquidation of the independence movement.The United Nations is powerless. Again it betrayed its promises and makes only pathetic calls for order to be restored by the...Indonesian Army itself. Only a united movement of the workers, peasant and the student of East Timor, Indonesia and the countries of the Pacific can defend the result of the referendum. We support the call for the immediate withdrawal of the Indonesian troops and the disbanding of the militias. We call on the labour movement to participate in the actions of protest and put their respective governments under pressure to break all links with the Indonesian government.

Read also:

East Timor: Can we trust the United Nations?
Early this morning, the United Nations force, Interfet, landed in East Timor. The operation is likely to be confrontational. Great expectations are being placed in the intervention of the international military force. Not least in East Timor and Australia. This article analyses the role of the United Nations in East Timor and also the policies of the Timor Resistance movement and the left in Australia.

East Timor: militias and military challenge independence vote
The overwhelming majority of the Timorese population voted in a UN sponsored referendum to end the 25 year long Indonesian military occupation. Now the militias and the army are trying to challenge these results. Jean Duval, September 6th, 1999.

Australian trade unionists take action on East Timor

For more updated information you can also visit the following solidarity web sites:

Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET)

East Timor Action Network/U.S.

For more information on the Indonesian revolution and material in Bahasa Indonesia see:

Indonesia in Revolt


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