WHEN the Portuguese military dictatorship was overthrown in 1974, its East Timor colony began the transition to independence. This process was stopped by the invasion of the Indonesian military dictators in 1975.
The invasion and occupation of this small nation ranks in barbarity with the crimes of the Nazis and Pol Pot. One third of the 600,000 population have been slaughtered.
Slaughter
Indonesian dictator Suharto is no stranger to mass slaughter. When the army came to power in Indonesia in 1965 at least one million supporters of the IndoIndonesian troops nesian Communist Party (PKI) were killed.
But Suharto is a friend of the West, and especially the US and Britain. Now John Major's government, and before him Thatcher's, are supplying weaponry to help the Indonesian army fight the Timor resistance - FRETILIN.
Britain supplies a fighter plane called the 'Hawk' made by British Aerospace. The Hawk is a 'trainer' - allegedly. But like many small, lightweight planes designed to train pilots, it is in much demand from military dictatorships around the world.
Itisideal for low-level bombing attack, for flying between mountains; it is one of the most feared weapons for the Timor resistance.
Arms deals
Indonesia, like Malaysia, is a recipient of British government aid, a way of ensuring arms deals. But British interest goes beyond the sordid 'aid for arms deals' which have become. a British stock-in-trade.
For an area of the sea called the Timor Gap, which should be under the sovereignty of East Timor but is controlled by Indonesia, is being explored for oil by Indonesia, the US and ...Britain. Another reward for British aid to the slaughter.
The plight of the people of east Timor has been too long ignored by the British labour movement.
Now the Campaign against the Arms Trade (CAAT) is waging a major campaign, ably aided by the indefatigable John Pilger whose sensational film on East Timor was shown on ITV on 22 February.
• ORDER the CAAT 4-page special on the Hawk sales (10p per copy) from CAAT, 11 Goodwin St., London N4 3HQ (071.281 0297).
• RAISE the issue on your CLP, trade union or campaign organisation. Speakers for meeting can be booked from CAAT at the above address. This has taken place under the noses of UN observers. Milosevic clearly isn't too worried about western threats.
Franjo Tudjman keeps threatening to send the Croatian army to intervene in Bosnia. Everyone knows Croatian troops have been involved from the start of the war.
Ignoring their presence, however, allows the Italian arms manufacturers to sell large amounts of weaponry to Croatia.
Conscription is also being introduced for Bosnian Croats, particularly for opponents of Tudjman's regime. One of the first to be drafted was Viktor Ivanic, editor of the anti-Tudjman 'Feral Tribune' Tudjman and Milosevic are, increasingly, attempting to settle their differences -even if only temporarily. In January they met in Geneva and agreed on 'normalising" relations.
A Milosevic adviser recently visited Zagreb. Plans : are under way to re-open the main Zagreb-Belgrade highway.
• MOVE this model resolution for labour movement bodies "This organisation notes:
a) The Indonesian оссираtion of east Timor in 1975 which has killed 200,00 people to aate b) These killings represent on third of the population, a greater proportion than Pol Pot killed in Cambodia.
c) The intended sale of 40 Hawk ground attack aircraft by Britain to Indonesia.
We therefore call on the British government to stop the sale of the Hawks, the delivery of those already sold and to implement a military embargo of Indonesia."
• SEND any resolutions to your local MP; John Major; the International Committee of the TUC at Congress House, and CAAT, address above. FUN. Pr 8.62 G However, both Milosevic and Tudjman have problems with some of their erstwhile supporters. Mate Boban has resigned as President of the Croatian controlled 'HercegBosna' and has withdrawn from participation in the Geneva talks on the partition of Bosnia. The reasons are not at all clear but it is likely they reflect major disagreements between Boban and Tudjman.
Milosevic had to overturn the results of three ballots for President of the Krajina before his nominee Milan Martic eventually defeated former Milosevic ally Milan Babic.
The 'rapprochement' between Zagreb and Belgrade is partially determined by the need to deal with their respective internal critics. But it is also an attempt to join forces to finally defeat the Bosnian resistance. Such aims are entirely consistent with the policies of the imperialist powers.
Bosnia needs all the help we can give if it is to survive the combined threats from NATO; the UN, Croatia and Serbia.