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Democracy, national liberation and a democratic foreign policy
"I am in full agreement with you that it is time for all progressive forces and all the pro-democracy forces to unite to smash the fascist dictatorship of the New Order so that a new democratic climate can be instituted for the Indonesian people and liberation can be won for the Maubere people." - Xanana Gusmao in a letter to AKSI, April 9, 1995
This Suara AKSI dossier contains letters and a speech by East Timorese as well as a position paper prepared by a coalition of mass based organisations established to campaign in support of self-determination in East Timor as well as democratisation in Indonesia.
The quote from Xanana Gusmao at the beginning of this editorial also makes clear the position of the leadership of the East Timorese resistance regarding the role of the democracy movement in Indonesia. Xanana sees the elimination of the dictatorship in Indonesia as a key factor that will help in winning national liberation in East Timor.
Another reflection of this reality is the formation of SPRIM (Solidaritas Perjuangan Rakyat Indonesia untuk Maubere - Indonesian Peoples Struggle in Solidarity with the Maubere People). SPRIM has been formed by some of the most active pro- democracy organisations in Indonesia today.
It is, of course, extremely natural that the most active and militant sections of the pro-democracy movement should quickly form an alliance with the East Timorese resistance. The people of Indonesia and East Timor fight exactly the same oppressor in the form of the Suharto dictatorship.
An organised campaign by SPRIM to popularise the idea that the demand for self-determination in East Timor must become a fundamental demand of the pro-democracy movement is an important step forward in building the kind of anti-war movement inside Indonesia that developed in the United States during the Vietnam War.
The SPRIM initiative is not the first move by the pro-democracy movement in Indonesia in support of the East Timorese. In 1991 INFIGHT (Indonesian Front for Defence of Human Rights) issued a demand for a self-determination referendum in East Timor. During 1991, 1992 and 1993 the underground publication PROGRES persistently campaigned for support for the East Timorese struggle.
After the Dili massacre a church based Committee in Defence of East Timor was established with mainly a human rights advocacy and welfare orientation. Indonesian academic Dr George Aditjondro also escalated his activities from research and writing to outspoken advocacy of the East Timorese cause. The student action and information centre, PIJAR, also began publishing pro-East Timorese material as did a number of other groups.
At the same time, the bigger and more moderate legalised parties, such as the Indonesian Democrat Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) have remained silent.
The formation of SPRIM has been made possible by the development of the Indonesian militant student-worker-peasant movement to a more advanced level. In 1991 the militant wing of the student-worker movement was still small and just beginning its growth. By 1995, it had consolidated itself and is now able to mobilise rallies of over 10,000 workers under the banner of such militant organisations such as SMID (Solidaritas Mahasiswa Indonesia untuk Demokrasi - Indonesian Student Solidarity with Democracy) and PPBI (Persatuan Perjuangan Buruh Indonesia - Centre for Indonesian Working Class Struggle). The decision by SMID and PPBI, among others, to work with the East Timorese means that the most organised section o the militant opposition to the dictatorship is now preparing to throw its resources and energy behind a campaign to broaden even further the Indonesian support for East Timor
The struggles in Indonesia and East Timor face the common oppressor of the Suharto dictatorship. Australian foreign policy is built upon extending and deepening a closer and closer collaboration with the Suharto dictatorship. Prime Minister Keating has repeatedly stated that the relationship with Indonesia is Australia's most important bilateral relationship. Keating and other ministers have also made it clear again and again that the Suharto government has been good for Indonesia and its people.
Meanwhile Australian military support for the dictatorship continues, involving both joint exercises as well as training in Australia.
In this regard, progressive and democratically minded people in Australia share the same challenge as the East Timorese and Indonesian liberation movements. We too are involved in a fight against the Suharto dictatorship. But we are also involved in a fight against our own government and the forces that back it. Oil profits for BHP and other companies, accessible markets and cheap labour for Australian companies are what motivates Australian foreign policy - not the democratic rights of our neighbouring peoples.
AKSI is committed to campaigning in solidarity with both the movement for social justice and democracy in Indonesia and liberation in East Timor. This means that we must also campaign for a democratic foreign policy in Australia - one that puts people before profits.