Re: AUT: WSW article on East Timor/Indonesia

[Sergio Fiedler <s.fiedler@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Bill

I certainly agree with supporting militarely the resistance in East Timor over
an Australian intervention, but to say that Indonesia is semi-feudal is
absolutelly wrong and the type fo theoretical argument that can be used to
back up military intervention.

Indonesia is already a well developed capitalist country, part of capitalist
world economy. If there still exist "semi-feudal" structures is not despite
the expansion of capitalism, but because of it. Within a globalised economy,
ach part of the contry related differently to the world market. In fact, in
many areas capitalism need forms of semi-feudalism to exist.

yours

Sergio

Bill Bartlett wrote:

> Angela,
>
> I am also a bit wary of any Australian military intervention in East Timor.
> While  the Indonesian military hangs on there it would be incredibly
> dangerous and of course if they agree to leave it would simply be
> unnecessary.
>
> But the Timorese are entitled to defend themselves and the least we can do
> is supply them with the means necessary to do that. We should do what we
> can to divert the economic and military aid currently going to the
> Indonesian state, to the Timorese, perhaps a combination of economic
> sanctions and the prospect of a well armed and well supplied resistance
> might do the trick.
>
> Doing nothing is evil.
>
> All the talk about opposing capitalist interests is just fantasy though.
> Indonesia itself is semi-feudal, Timor being essentially a feifdom
> controlled by elements of the military, both East Timor and Indonesia would
> surely be better off with a functional capitalist economic system and some
> measure of political democracy? Doesn't give me any pleasure to say that
> though.
>
> Bill Bartlett
> Bracknell tas
>
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