[Marxism] East Timor

[Greg Adler]

Nestor Gorojovsky said
"..But wanted to stress something,Louis, and it is that on my East Tmor analysis I was not projecting the South Atlantic on the Coral Sea."

Just as well given that East Timor and Timor in general is in the Timor Sea seperated from the Coral Sea by over a thousand miles.

It's not an insignificant issue ( in Latin American terms its a bit like mistaking Chile for Argentina) because a large part of the neo-colonial relationship with Australia revolves around the exploitation of the oil resources in the Timor Sea.

The proposition that East Timor should have joined in the Indonesian struggle against colonialism is a little more complex than Nestor appears to recognise as the colonial power in East Timor was Portugal while that in Indonesia was Holland.

It is not the case that the only choice for East Timor was to exist as a part of Indonesia or in a neo-colonial relationship with Australia. The previous Fretilin dominated government of Prime Minister Alkitiri was not without fault but at least showed a degree of thinking that could give an independent development to East Timor and drove as hard a bargain as it could with Australia over its oil resources and how to use the income from them.

The Neo-Liberal government of Gusmao and Ramos Horta brought to power with the assistance of another humanitarian intervention by Australian imperialism has tied itself to the neo-colonial path.

Ramos Horta has been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the invasion of Iraq and has been gushing in his praise of Australia whether led by Howard or Rudd.

It is perfectly understandable that comrades in or from Latin America are censorious of western marxists who offer nostrums based on scant knowledge of the conditions in that area of the world.

In turn if they are to comment on developments elsewhere it should be on a foundation of reasonable knowledge.