Archive Article: East Timor – Free At Last 17 May 02.
December 29, 2008

East Timor is now the world’s newest country. The current independence celebrations are a vindication of all the campaigning that a number of us have done over the years to win the freedom of East Timor.

The then Indonesian government invaded East Timor in 1975. The war was, in per capita terms, one of the world’s most violent wars of the 20th century. About 200,000 people were killed (the population in 1975 was about 600,000 people). But the Indonesian government under-estimated the desire of the East Timorese for independence. Despite of all the years of war and suffering, the Indonesians never broke the resistance of the people.

A well-organized, well motivated guerrilla group fighting on its own terrain, with the support of the local people, is almost impossible to beat. The East Timorese guerrillas had no military support from the outside world because Indonesia sealed off the island following the invasion. The fighters had to rely on home-made equipment and weapons taken from Indonesian soldiers. But they successfully resisted one of the largest defence forces in the world.

Meanwhile, Indonesian unity suffered because of the invasion. Indonesia is like a necklace of pearls strung out across a distance the equivalent of London to New York. The primary task of the government is to hold the country together.

In 1975, the Indonesian government feared that an independent East Timor would somehow be an example to other parts of the country to campaign for their own independence. Whether that would have been the case will never be known. After all, East Timor was never a part of the old Dutch empire (as was the rest of Indonesia) – it was part of the Portuguese empire.

But what we do now know is that the way East Timor resisted the Indonesian aggression has provided an inspiration to the more independent-minded parts of Indonesia. The East Timorese have proved that it is possible to defeat Jakarta. Therefore, ironically, the Indonesian government invaded the Portuguese colony of East Timor to try to stop an independent East Timor from being an example to Indonesian factions – and instead Indonesia’s defeat may be an inspiration to those factions to continue their own struggle for independence.

Finally, non-governmental organizations have helped keep alive the cause of East Timor. The US, British and Australian governments all supported the Indonesian invasion but many organizations based within those countries did not.

For example, retired Australian soldiers (normally a conservative group in Australian politics) have been consistently critical of Australian governments. The first invasion of East Timor in the 20th century came in World War II and was done by Australia. Japan was sweeping south and Australia invaded East Timor as a forward defence operation. The Dutch Empire was at war with Japan but not Portugal, which was neutral. It is possible that the Japanese would have invaded Dutch West Timor but not touched Portuguese East Timor. Therefore, Australia drew Japan into East Timor and about 14 per cent of the East Timorese were killed helping Australian troops. As the Australian troops left at the end of the war their aircraft dropped leaflets thanking the people for their help and promising “we will never forget you”. The Australian veterans have kept their promise (even if the governments over the decades were slow to do so).

Similar tribute should also be paid to the churches. The country is over 90 per cent Christian. The churches overseas stood by their sisters and brothers in East Timor. This was often controversial because the various politicians – in both governments and churches – argued that the Indonesian takeover had been successful and so an independent East Timor was a lost cause. But the campaign went on. Their work has now come to fruition. East Timor is free at last.

Broadcast On Friday 17th May 2002 On Radio 2GB’s “Brian Wilshire Programme” At 9pm And On 19th May 2002 On “Sunday Night Live” At 10.30pm