Timor Leste commemorates today the anniversary of Indonesian invasion on December 7, 1974 that marked the illegal annexation of this small nation east of Timor island. On that date East Timor now officially known as the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, became the 28th province of the Republic of Indonesian when then President Suharto forcibly occupied the small territory of less than 1 million people. That signaled the start of the crimes against humanity in Timor Leste for which justice still remain undelivered to date.
Timor Leste commemorates today the anniversary of Indonesian invasion on December 7, 1974 that marked the illegal annexation of this small nation east of Timor island. On that date East Timor now officially known as the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, became the 28th province of the Republic of Indonesian when then President Suharto forcibly occupied the small territory of less than 1 million people. That signaled the start of the crimes against humanity in Timor Leste for which justice still remain undelivered to date.
Indonesia with the support of US state department under Henry Kissinger initiated the illegal occupation of the East Timor and for more than 24 years before finally gaining independence under a UN-supervised referendum in 1999, the Timorese suffered gross human rights abuses and intense militarization. US military ties with Indonesia was very strong during the 24 years of Indonesian occupation of East Timor. However, following the exposure of TNI excesses and growing international support for Timor’s independence, US severed ties and military aid to Indonesia was cut-off.
In a recent move to resume US military relations with Indonesia premised on the former’s belief that the latter has been successful in its efforts at democratic reforms, Indonesia will then again enjoy full military support from the US.
But Indonesia’s vaunted democracy is a euphemism considering the fact that human rights violations continue unabated as recently in tsunami- devastated Aceh, in West Papua and other parts of Indonesia. Most significantly, those responsible for the crimes against humanity in East Timor remain free and enjoy impunity and some have in fact been deployed to oversee military operations in conflict areas to perhaps reprise the same atrocities they have sharpened in East Timor.
Today as we remember the invasion of East Timor in 1974, we remember all the Timorese who have died and survived that fateful day and all the other victims and survivors of the 24 years of brutal and illegal occupation. We in APSOC extend our solidarity to the Timorese people for their continuing quest for justice and for genuine development as they rebuild their shattered country from devastation following the indepedence vote.
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