Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 15:36:32 +1100 (EST)
Subject: Re: AUT: Indonesia and Washington


George Pennefather wrote:

>Already Canberra has demonstrated at this early stage how the situation
>>can easily spiral out of control with the Howard and Moore gaffes. All
>their >statements have achieved is the increased alienation of Jakarta and
>perhaps >of other powers in the region.

What seems to really upset the Indonesian military is talk of
investigations into crimes against humanity. No doubt George would consider
it another example of "imperialism" were the likes of General Wiranto to be
held accountable for the hundreds of thousands of people butchered and
brutalised during the long Indonesian occupation of East Timor?

Of course the Indonesian Military insist that any investigations be carried
out only in co-operation with the Indonesian military itself. Insisting
that someone other than the chief suspects of human rights atrocities
investigate those atrocities is not imperialism, imperialism is what the
Indonesians did in East Timor, West Papua etc.

Eventually, empires that are held together only by military force fall
apart. It happened to the Roman empire, it happened to the British empire,
it happened to the Soviet union, it is happening now, on a smaller scale,
in Indonesia. Yet you refer to this falling apart of empire  as
"imperialism" George.

Bill Bartlett
Bracknell tas




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