By Rebecca Meckelburg
SYDNEY — The success of the East Timor: its future in the Asia Pacific conference, held June 21-24, was indicated by the attendance of more than 350 people, including 80 international guests. Another very positive outcome, conference coordinator Max Lane told Green Left Weekly, was "the first real discussion between the East Timor liberation movement leadership and the leaders from the Indonesian pro-democracy movement. It has laid the basis for strong relations between these movements."
Harold Moucho, representative for Fretilin, echoed this sentiment. "The conference was very positive for us and for all the resistance people who attended, because we were able to have real discussion with Timorese from both outside and inside East Timor, and we could discuss proposals with the Indonesian pro-democracy leaders."
In the session "Scenarios and Solutions: Indonesian and East Timorese perspectives", Jose Ramos Horta, special representative for the National Council of Maubere Resistance, summed up: "Our struggle and fate are intertwined not by geography alone, but rather by the nature of the regime that is responsible for the crimes perpetrated against our two peoples. It is only natural therefore that without losing sight of our respective historical and cultural identities and political aims — ours is self-determination, yours is democracy and the rule of law in Indonesia — we seek to join forces, to cooperate wherever we can."
A range of political perspectives were presented by the representatives from the People's Democratic Party (PRD) of Indonesia, the Sukarnoist movement and the Centre for Information Action and Reform (PIJAR) in the session on Indonesian political developments. On East Timor, most groups supported its right to be independent. Permadi, an active pro-Sukarnoist, said that while he would like East Timor to stay as part of Indonesia, he would support a self-determination referendum of the East Timorese people.
In the "East Timor as an Australian foreign policy issue" session, the panel speakers agreed that successive Australian governments, both Labor and Coalition, have a rotten record on East Timor. Both parties in government have officially recognised the illegal occupation of East Timor by Indonesia. However, panel speakers disagreed over whether the new Coalition government could be convinced — by lobbying — to change its policy on East Timor.
Pat Walsh from the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) argued that some of the actions of new foreign minister Alexander Downer indicated a possible new approach on human rights. He suggested that now is the time to lobby the Liberal Party for a policy that would favour human rights in East Timor.
Lane argued that the Nationals, the Liberals and Labor are unlikely to change their bipartisan view on East Timor except under mass pressure. "They all remain firmly committed to their profit-driven special relationship with the Indonesian dictatorship of Suharto. Through military cooperation, Australian arms sales to Indonesia, the signing of the East Timor Gap Treaty and most recently the public signing of a security agreement between the Indonesian and Australian governments, the actual record of all these parties shows that they do not have any real interest in human rights."
Following the conference, three days of informal meetings between international participants and Australian solidarity activists took place. Solidarity activists discussed how to promote an international day of solidarity on November 12, the anniversary of the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre, and support for a range of activities to be held in Australia and internationally over the next six months.
Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) member Nick Fredman told Green Left Weekly that the conference had inspired activists in Australia and internationally to continue to build strong movements to demand a free East Timor. ASIET is supporting the Resistance and National Union of Students-sponsored tour of Nico Warouw from the PRD in NSW in July and in other states in the coming months. Warouw will give details on the Indonesian pro-democracy struggle and the developing links between it and the resistance both inside and outside East Timor.
There are many events and activities planned over the next two months in support of a free East Timor. Events are planned for July 17, the 20th anniversary of Indonesia's declaration of the "official" integration of East Timor into Indonesia. "Free East Timor" and "Withdraw Australian recognition of the annexation of East Timor" are the two demands of a national day of solidarity being organised for August 25.