1995 is going to be a difficult year for the Suharto regime in Indonesia.
The previous twelve months have witnessed a fundamental change in the political situation in regard to the occupation of East Timor and the developing democracy movement in Indonesia itself.
As reported in the last issue of Socialist Outlook the events of November 12th saw the emergence of both a more organised and deeper rooted resistance movement in East Timor, the first signs of support for that resistance in Indonesia, and the development of an international solidarity movement with the East Timorese struggie.
The panic measures adopted by Suharto to deal with the events in East Timor show a regime manoeuvering in an ever closing political space. The referendum at gunpoint and the forced demonstration and rally organised by the military in the capital, Dili (during which the assembled crowd was harangued by the military officials about the benefits of integration into Indonesia), have only resulted in a hardening of the civil resistance to Jakarta's rule.
Significantly the overwhelming bulk of the demonstrators in Dili on 12th November 1994 had not started school when the Indonesians invaded in 1975.
New generation The generation educated in special schools where the regime banned their own languages and implemented a rigorous program of indoctrination have given their verdict on this process.
The youngest of the 125 detained follow the uprising are two 13 year olds, Albano de Jesus and Antonio Gonclaves. Demonstration outside Indonesian Embassy in London ber 12th 1991 as a massacre. This will effectively undermine the continued Indonesian description of it as an "incident".
The Amnesty International report on the events of November 12th 1994 points to the excessive force and ill treatment used by the security forces in Dili. It also notes that, whilst under the gaze of the world's media, no one was actually killed, some demonstrators were beaten until their faces were "unrecognizable".
Additionally the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has passed a resolution condemning the Indonesian occupation and widespread human right abuses.
True, these reports only add to the paper mountain reporting the long standing atrocities of the Indonesian regime: but they do add significant pressure to all those international leaders who are sitting on the fence.
Mandela
One of these is Nelson Mandela, who only a few months after being released from prison visited Suharto and accepted a cheque for $10 million to pay off ANC debts.
The international solidarity movement has exerted enormous pressure on Mandela to speak out for the people of East Timor and to end his cosy relationship with Suharto.
Inside the ANC there has been a growing debate about the issue. During his opening address to the ANC Conference in mid December 1994 Mandela called explicitly for support for the people of East Timor:
"We cannot be found wanting in expressing our solidarity with friends in need in other parts of the world including the people of Cuba, East Timor, Palestine and elsewhere."
Diplomatic words? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile the campaign to stop the delivery of Hawk ground attack aircraft to Indonesia and for a military embargo has gathered pace in Britain. The coalition "Stop The Hawks - No Arms to Indonesia" is organising a year of action in 1995.
Events will include a mass protest at the British Aerospace AGM in late April, trespasses, a mass day of action on November 12th and a mass lobby or Parliament on December 7th 1995 which is the twentieth anniversary of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.
1995, is, therefore, a critical year for solidarity work with East Timor and the democratic movement in Indonesia.
One easy task is to get Labour Party and trade unions branches to sponsor the campaign - this is free but donations are welcome.
An action pack is available that outlines all the campaigning a possibilities for the year ahead.
Write to Stop the Hawks, c/o PO Box 2349, London E1 3HX with a cheque for £1.20.