From: policyresearch@mediamonitors.net

Indonesia, East Timor and The Western Powers A Case Study of The Role of Western Foreign Policy in Conflict Creation and Peace Sabotage

http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq25.html

In the wake of the 11th September 2001 attacks on the United States, the formation of an international coalition against terrorism under American leadership has been based on the conventional premise that Western civilisation has some sort of superior moral status within world order which permits it to be the principal initiator of a war on terror. The idea that the Western powers may have a systematic role in perpetrating terror, undermining democracy and promoting human rights abuses around the world to secure their strategic and economic interests poses a severe challenge to the notion that the West can play a meaningful role in combating terror. Indeed, if established, it demonstrates that the same powers who have no qualms about perpetrating terror and repression in the name of their interests, are hardly going to be key opponents of terrorism.

This paper analyses the developments of Western foreign policy towards Indonesia and East Timor in the post-World War II period with the aim of examining the degree to which Western foreign policy is genuinely formulated with the intent to promote human rights, conflict resolution and world peace, and thus put an end to terrorism. Indeed, Indonesia and East Timor are prime examples of how Western foreign policy actually systematically results in the violation of human rights, the support of terror, the creation of conflict and the sabotage of peace. Policy, it seems, is formulated primarily on the basis of achieving regional strategic and economic interests, with humanitarian principles being systematically sidelined. In this context, we must view Western claims to be harbingers of humanitarianism, leading a genuine war against terrorism, with much skepticism.

Please use this information in an effort stop war and terrorism, and to promote human rights, justice and peace.

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Contents and Introduction

Indonesia, East Timor and The Western Powers A Case Study of The Role of Western Foreign Policy in Conflict Creation and Peace Sabotage by Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed

I. The Crusade in Indonesia I.I Sweeping Indonesia Clean I.II The Installation of Suharto

II. Annexing East Timor ; II.I The Balibo Declaration and Other Political Frauds I I.II Explicit Western Approval of Indonesia's Invasion II.III Impact of the Invasion and the Ensuing Conflict II.IV The Arms Ban and the Escalation of Genocide II.V Diplomatic and Financial Perpetuation of the Conflict

III. Western Humanitarian Intervention III.I The Referendum III.II The Escalation of Atrocities With Western Support III.III Belated UN Intervention III.IV Western Interests In Indonesia and East Timor III.V The Real Agenda for Intervention

Introduction In the wake of the 11th September 2001 attacks on the United States, the formation of an international coalition against terrorism under American leadership has been based on the conventional premise that Western civilisation has some sort of superior moral status within world order which permits it to be the principal initiator of a war on terror. The idea that the Western powers may have a systematic role in perpetrating terror, undermining democracy and promoting human rights abuses around the world to secure their strategic and economic interests poses a severe challenge to the notion that the West can play a meaningful role in combating terror. Indeed, if established, it demonstrates that the same powers who have no qualms about perpetrating terror and repression in the name of their interests, are hardly going to be key opponents of terrorism. This paper analyses the developments of Western foreign policy towards Indonesia and East Timor in the post-World War II period with the aim of examining the degree to which Western foreign policy is genuinely formulated with the intent to promote human rights, conflict resolution and world peace, and thus put an end to terrorism. Indeed, Indonesia and East Timor are prime examples of how Western foreign policy actually systematically results in the violation of human rights, the support of terror, the creation of conflict and the sabotage of peace. Policy, it seems, is formulated primarily on the basis of achieving regional strategic and economic interests, with humanitarian principles being systematically sidelined. In this context, we must view Western claims to be harbingers of humanitarianism, leading a genuine war against terrorism, with much skepticism.

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