Os vossos amigos nao vos esquecem.

An Outsider Looking In
On East Timor
by Chris Gelken

Killing Fields

Nov. 30, 1997 -- Hong Kong (APJP) -- The world is a little over a week away from a grim celebration. Twenty-two years ago the Indonesian military were preparing for their invasion of the small enclave of East Timor. The bulk of the Indonesian military that is. Jakarta had already infiltrated units into the former Portuguese colony to foment instability and violence.

The introduction of the East Timor 'question' to South African leader Nelson Mandela's agenda has brought much needed attention to a more than two decades old illegal occupation. A brutal occupation. I dislike the expression 'question' used by people when they refer to East Timor. Indonesia shouldn't be there. No question about that. For once, I agree with the United Nations and at least as far as resolutions go, the world body agrees with me.

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Unfortunately, Mandela's noble efforts are somewhat overshadowed and clouded by his habit of trying to run with the hounds, and the foxes. His recent double-trip to Libya upset a lot of people who would normally associate Mandela with the fight for freedom, democracy and racial equality. The ANC's famous struggle against white-supremacy cannot help but be a little tainted by the fact that it received help from Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.

But then, Mandela seems to play by his own rules and one can't fault the man for that. It has a sort of refreshing honesty about it. Mind you, the revelations coming out of the Truth and Reconciliation hearings about just how down and dirty his former wife, Winnie, was willing to get are putting a whole new spin on the idea of a heroic struggle by an oppressed people. How much did the former political prisoner know about these goings on and what else is he covering up?

It is still early years for Mandela. He is just really beginning to 'feel his oats' as president. Let's just hope he doesn't go the same way as his contemporary Robert Mugabe across the border in Zimbabwe. The former guerrilla/terrorist - depending on your point of view - has been running his country into the ground and coming up with some pretty bizarre policies. It is sort of funny in a not very humorous way, but I haven't seen any demonstrations outside Zimbabwean diplomatic offices by black activists protesting against the planned confiscation of land from white farmers. Human rights and racial equality cuts both ways, doesn't it?

Yeah, okay, I can hear the protests already. The white settlers stole the land from the Africans and then treated them like slaves and second class citizens. The settlers may have lived on the land for generations but it didn't belong to them to begin with. Right, in principle I agree. So why doesn't the US Federal government acknowledge that every square inch of the American continent once belonged - if not by printed title deed but by occupation - to Native Americans and give it all back? Because it would not be practical or fair.

We can't change history. I always hate it when some 'Mahatir-esque' character take one look at the colour of my skin and then begins to lecture me about the unfairness of colonialism. I wasn't there, pal. But, I couldn't agree more. It is terribly wrong of one nation to impose itself on another, rape its resources and its women, torture and kill its young men. I believe in the right of self determination, I believe in equality of race, sex or sexual preference, the freedom of expression and the right to protest.

And that is why I will close this week's column with one simple request: Indonesia, get the hell out of East Timor.