Self-determination now for East Timor!
The Indonesian government's half-hearted acknowledgment that the East Timorese people might have the right to decide whether they want their independence has raised the hopes of the East Timorese and their supporters, but it does not go nearly far enough.
The Indonesian military continues to arm paramilitary gangs in order to create turmoil that can be used either to justify continued military occupation or to prevent a free act of self-determination by the people. Ending this situation is of the utmost urgency. It requires the immediate withdrawal of Indonesian troops as the only way to end 23 years of violence and intimidation.
The removal of Indonesian troops can and should be followed by a referendum on East Timor's future, as soon as the East Timorese resistance feels such a poll can be organised. The alternatives open to the East Timorese people are clear, and delays in registering their decision will only put off efforts to begin mending the consequences of war and military occupation.
In their efforts to rebuild, the East Timorese require and deserve considerable assistance. Some of that assistance should come from the Indonesian government (perhaps some of the Suharto family's ill-gotten gains could be seized for that purpose). But the bulk of it must come from wealthy countries like Australia.
This is not only because the Australian government has a much greater capacity to provide assistance than does the Indonesian government. Generous assistance is also due to the East Timorese because of the Australian government's outrageous record of encouragement of, support for and collaboration with Suharto's aggression. Australian companies have benefited, directly and indirectly, from this record, and the government itself collects royalties on oil which it divides with Indonesia but which rightfully belong to East Timor.
There is no valid reason for delaying any of these measures, all of which are just and necessary for the future well-being of the East Timorese. None of them need to wait for, or be made conditional upon, actions by the United Nations or diplomatic manoeuvres by governments whose hostility to the welfare of East Timor is evident from their actions over two decades.