U$ and imperialism responsible for genocide and repression of East Timorese
MIM Notes 195
by MC53 and MC17
On September 12, Indonesia's u.$.-puppet President B.J. Habibie conceded to the use of possibly 7,000 foreign troops under the guise of ending the violence against East Timorese.(1) As many as 200,000 East Timorese have been driven out of their territory, and there have been reports that 10,000 have been killed (1) following their vote for independence on August 30th. The widespread violence perpetrated by the imperialist-backed Indonesian military and reactionary militias has demonstrated once again that freedom for the toiling masses can only be achieved by rising up and demolishing the imperialist system.
President Habibie suggested and arranged the August 30 referendum in East Timor -- a territory that has been under Indonesian control since its 1975 invasion. Since invading East Timor, imperialist-backed Indonesia has massacred more than one third of the population. The East Timorese have waged a strong battle for independence and have been met with massacres of the masses and assassination, imprisonment and repression of independence leaders. Only after 24 years of bloodshed has the Indonesian government suggested a referendum.
The imperialists and their fascist lackeys have retained economic, military and political control over East Timor, resulting in the further impoverishment of the masses. Extraction of surplus value from the masses and pillage of East Timorese natural resources have been the norm. With this track record it is no surprise the people did not vote to remain under imperialist-backed Indonesian control. Yet now that the East Timorese people have voted their will, the imperialist-armed Indonesian military has renewed its genocidal efforts against them.
Habibie jumped on the Australian and Amerikan imperialist publicity bandwagon: blame the militias for violence, appear concerned about the welfare of the East Timorese and avoid responsibility for genocide and repression of the East Timorese. Now, with increased pressure to stop the violence, the imperialists and their comprador lackey Habibie are smoothing over more than two decades of violence against the East Timorese by preparing a United Nations occupation force.
Though Australia prepares to lead the UN so-called peace-keeping troops and the United Snakes has publicly stated that it opposes the ongoing violence, it is the imperialists that are responsible for the slaughter of East Timorese. It is the imperialists who are responsible for denying the East Timorese genuine self-determination and freedom.
For more than two decades, the imperialists have armed, trained and funded the fascist Indonesian regime. Imperialist economic and military interests in Indonesia necessitate a militarist comprador class. Compradors (informally called lackies or puppets) pave the way for imperialist export of capital, exploitation, and resource extraction from neo-colonies. A comprador class is defined by the kickbacks it receives from its imperialist masters in exchange for ensuring favorable conditions for imperialist nation corporations.
Death squads in Latin America and reactionary militias in East Timor and elsewhere serve the imperialist and compradors by carrying out genocide and political repression as needed. This reactionary section of the Indonesian population does not represent the vast majority of Indonesians; the masses of Indonesia have also been repressed in political organization to help guarantee imperialist profits and military positioning.
Though many reports show independence supporters in East Timor calling for a UN force, this is not a call we in the imperialist countries can echo. As a Maoist party in the united snakes, it is MIM's job to point out the u.$. history of perpetuating slaughter and re-colonization of oppressed nations under the guise of keeping the peace. The current situation in East Timor is a product of Amerikan crimes against the people. The genocide and exploitation of East Timorese, Filipinos, Azanians, Peruvians, Indigenous nation members, members of the Black nation and Atzlan, and the exploited Indonesian masses as well -- will only cease when we smash imperialism entirely. MIM calls on all good-intentioned liberals to definitively take a stand against imperialism and U.$. militarism. And we call on all anti-imperialists to focus unwavering efforts to build opposition to the core problem -- imperialism.
Notes:
1. The New York Times 13 September 1999, p. A1.