Democracy or hypocrisy?
MIM Notes 195
by MC53 and MC17
In what was originally lauded as a 'model vote', the people of East Timor voted overwhelmingly for independence in the UN-sponsored referendum on August 30th. The ballot choices were independence or autonomy. The vote for autonomy indicates support for continued ties with Indonesia as imperialism's neo-colony. The bourgeois press reported that autonomy would mean: "Indonesia would cede control of everything except defense, foreign relations, and some judicial and financial affairs."(1) The benign depiction of the vote for autonomy did not fool the masses though -- MIM and the masses fully understand that neo-colonial oppression would only continue under such a 'special status.'
The victory of independence in the vote was more than the free and fair election. At first, the bourgeois media reported few cases of violence and that the vote was going relatively well. This temporarily helped the imperialists to maintain the image of growing democracy in Indonesia. (That image is an important part of increasing capital export to Indonesia and increased exploitation of the masses there.)
Following 24 years of violence, and four months of violence since the UN-sponsored process started, the armed militias were intimidating East Timorese voters to vote for so-called autonomy. That an overwhelming majority (78.5%) still voted for independence underscores the terrorist rule of the Indonesian government and military and the East Timorese persistent struggle to end the occupation. Official counts report nearly 99% of the 450,000 registered voters turned out in spite of the campaign of terrorism.
On paper, the referendum results can not take effect until a formal vote in the Indonesian legislature this fall. (This could be delayed even longer if handled by the imperialists and their lackeys.) The Indonesian legislature must vote to allow East Timorese independence, despite President B.J. Habibie's promises to recognize the will of the East Timorese. The intense violence following the vote demonstrates that it is not possible to hold a referendum under imperialist occupation and decisively achieve genuine freedom and self-determination. The imperialists and their lackeys do not give up power so easily. A vote merely gives the veneer of democracy. But the contradiction between the reality of repression and the TV image created has been exposed.
MAOIST PROTRACTED PEOPLE'S WAR MOST EFFECTIVELY COMBATS IMPERIALISM
MIM supports the East Timorese people's right to self-determination. But we learn from countries like Eritrea and East Timor that a strong proletarian communist party leading the independence struggle is necessary to end the death grip of imperialism. Throwing off one master does not mean independence has been won. To survive in the world order of international imperialism without being eaten up by the imperialists requires an organized leadership with the support of the people and a military that can defend its borders and its people.
If the vote is honored, the end of Indonesian dictatorship will be a real advance for the people of East Timor. We urge our brothers and sisters still waging this battle for independence for East Timor to study the lessons of history and build the necessary communist leadership that can turn this victory into lasting independence and socialism for the people of East Timor.
As written in the documents released by practitioners of Maoist Protracted People's War: "Mao's proletarian revolutionary line consistently runs from People's War and the new democratic revolution through socialist revolution and construction to the theory and practice of continuing revolution under the proletarian dictatorship." ... "The People's Wars and the revolutionary uprisings constitute the most advanced detachment of the struggle against the "New World Order." Objectively they are inflicting severe blows against imperialism, are showing that the people's resistance cannot be suppressed, and are strengthening the self-confidence of the masses. [Protracted People's War] answers the central question of revolution, which is the seizure of political power."(2)
Inside the imperialist countries, MIM's role is to expose the devastating wrath imperialism has inflicted against oppressed peoples. MIM continues to strengthen our Party and build support for Marxism-Leninism-Maoism as the means to most effectively end imperialist exploitation. We urge readers and activists to join the long-term struggle against imperialism entire.
NOTES:
1. The New York Times 31 August 1999, p. A3.
2. Excerpts reprinted in MIM Notes 180