Re: Reply to Jose

[Green Left Parramatta <glparramatta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jose G. Perez wrote:

>
> Similarly, in the case of East Timor, I think revolutionaries CAN support
> the demand of the national liberation movement for a "peacekeeping"
> intervention; moreover, I do not think the differentiation between the
> "civilian" UN operation and the "military" one is justified in this case. It
> is all part of a single political intervention or project.
>
> [snip]

> I do not believe the campaign the DSP has carried out is correct. The axis
> of all our activity should be the right of the people of East Timor to
> self-determination and independence.  Australia has no "right" to go into
> East Timor, the only legitimacy the UN force has is that its presence has
> been requested by the Timorese National movement. If the Timorese has asked
> for guns to be sent instead of troops  The more I think about it, the more I
> think our central demand should have been from the time of the vote that the
> UN and all countries recognize East Timor as an independent state, but I
> can't see opposing the Timorese request for a peacekeeping force under these
> circumstances.
>
> For me a decisive element is the existence of a Timorese national liberation
> movement that has been fighting for decades and that is speaking with one
> voice on this issue.
>
> José
>
>

Jose,

I have found little to disagree with your arguments. They are
essentially the position of the DSP. Our party campaigned and played an
important role in mobilising tens of thousands of Australians to demand
that the Australian government immediately respond to the call by the
CRNT to stop the slaughter and allow the freedom fighters in Timor to
survive. Australia has no right beyond that and their mandate should be
limited by the wishes of the CRNT. The solidarity movement in Australia
and around the world should be ready to mobilise again if the
Australian/UN force breaches that mandate.

If you check our initial statement that is made clear and the
statements. I can only guess that your statement that you think the
DSP's campaign was wrong is based on some of the caricatures of our
position that have been posted here.

In solidarity,

Norm Dixon.