Danceswithwordsaustralia complicit in genocide.
November 21st 2006 03:16
So once again it begins. in the signing of the new australian and indonesian security pact (called the lombok treaty), it seems like there is yet another brutal genocide in south east asia that the australian government actively supports. the pact is a subservient gesture to indonesian president susilo bambang yudohuno by downer and howard to make up for their "mistake" of allowing 43 west papuan refugees asylum on january 18th this year. the howard government has been on the backfoot with their increasingly powerful neighbour ever since leading an united nations intervention force in east timor and have been trying to improve relations ever since. the treaty declares that the indonesian government has full sovereignty over all its provinces and that in no uncertain terms, irrespective of circumstance, can australia interfere with their hegemonical status.
if this all smacks of familiarity, theres a reason. in 1975, when the dutch left their former colony of east timor, it didnt take long for the indonesian military and sponsored militias to move in. it conducted one of the most oppressive and violent campaigns in recent history, waging a bloody war for dominance that cost the lives of over a third of the east timorese population. the australian government were not only bystanders to this act of genocide - perpetuated by the infamous general suharto and backed by all major western powers - it was an active participant. it supported, trained and financed the indonesian militia kopassus in techniques of "forceful interrogation" and "population control". what this amounted to was that the australian defence force, via the requests of our government, trained a violent and unruly militia in the arts of torture and oppression. why did we do such a thing you may ask? well, there were two reasons... firstly, general suharto and the indonesians were willing to sell us oil from the timor sea gap at a much cheaper price than any real national government ever would (the timor gap treaty) and secondly, there was a very vague threat of east timor becoming australia's cuba, a socialist nation right next door. eventually in 99, under huge domestic and international pressure, the howard government decided to graciously intervene in timor leste for so called 'humanitarian reasons'.
sadly though, when one examines closely the recent actions of exploiting east timorese oil and ensuring foreign companies entrance and buisness monopoly, its fairly safe to assume that the proclamations of good intentions were as farcical as their reasons for the iraq war.
what we have currently in west papua is strikingly similar to the previous situation in east timor. we have widespread, confirmed allegations of torture, rape, mass slaughter and oppression throughout the recently partitioned country. we have shocking stories of the indonesian military (TNI), specifically importing prostitutes who have HIV/AID's in specific locations to thin the population. we have assassinations of seperatist leaders, outspoken politicians and any activists who dare to speak out. we have had campaigns of mindless terror waged by the military and the militia, who kill indiscrimately, burn entire villages and displace massive numbers of the population.....and of course, we have the indonesian military still being supported and partly trained by australia.
the one real difference between the two disillusioning stories is that the australian government has now promised never, no matter how much pressure is put on it, will it support the struggle for autonomy in west papua. we are once again complicit in genocide, only now, the howard government has stated, that as long as it stays in power, it will support the deaths of the innocent west papuans and consult the indonesians about any papuan refugees who flee to our shores seeking desperate sanctuary.
if this all smacks of familiarity, theres a reason. in 1975, when the dutch left their former colony of east timor, it didnt take long for the indonesian military and sponsored militias to move in. it conducted one of the most oppressive and violent campaigns in recent history, waging a bloody war for dominance that cost the lives of over a third of the east timorese population. the australian government were not only bystanders to this act of genocide - perpetuated by the infamous general suharto and backed by all major western powers - it was an active participant. it supported, trained and financed the indonesian militia kopassus in techniques of "forceful interrogation" and "population control". what this amounted to was that the australian defence force, via the requests of our government, trained a violent and unruly militia in the arts of torture and oppression. why did we do such a thing you may ask? well, there were two reasons... firstly, general suharto and the indonesians were willing to sell us oil from the timor sea gap at a much cheaper price than any real national government ever would (the timor gap treaty) and secondly, there was a very vague threat of east timor becoming australia's cuba, a socialist nation right next door. eventually in 99, under huge domestic and international pressure, the howard government decided to graciously intervene in timor leste for so called 'humanitarian reasons'.
what we have currently in west papua is strikingly similar to the previous situation in east timor. we have widespread, confirmed allegations of torture, rape, mass slaughter and oppression throughout the recently partitioned country. we have shocking stories of the indonesian military (TNI), specifically importing prostitutes who have HIV/AID's in specific locations to thin the population. we have assassinations of seperatist leaders, outspoken politicians and any activists who dare to speak out. we have had campaigns of mindless terror waged by the military and the militia, who kill indiscrimately, burn entire villages and displace massive numbers of the population.....and of course, we have the indonesian military still being supported and partly trained by australia.
the one real difference between the two disillusioning stories is that the australian government has now promised never, no matter how much pressure is put on it, will it support the struggle for autonomy in west papua. we are once again complicit in genocide, only now, the howard government has stated, that as long as it stays in power, it will support the deaths of the innocent west papuans and consult the indonesians about any papuan refugees who flee to our shores seeking desperate sanctuary.
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Comment by DanM
“The Parties, consistent with their respective domestic laws and international obligations, shall not in any manner support or participate in activities by any person or entity which constitutes a threat to the stability, sovereignty or territorial integrity of the other Party, including by those who seek to use its territory for encouraging or committing such activities, including separatism, in the territory of the other Party.” (‘Party’ means nation.)
I suppose this means well meaning people can sleep at night with the happy thought that Australia still refers to international obligations.
The sleep can deepen into a coma as the state continues to destroy the ABC's resolve to report this important regional issue to the Australian public.
I'm shocked to read about the new wave of biological warefare (introduced tapeworms), being waged against an unsuspecting West Papuan population. Just another thing the ABC isn't funded to reveal.
Of course, the West Papuans have been denied due process under international law in 1969 during the sham Act of Free choice where 1022 "representatives", selected and brutalized by the military were forced to vote by a show of hands while contained in halls also filled with military. The 100 percent vote for remaining part of Indonesia totally lacks credibility because no vote is that definitive.
Australia has international obligations in this reguard, but while we sleep, shrinks away from them to avoid the guilt of being an active party in this sham.
It's been said before, but Wake up Australia
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by ChrisM