Ramos-Horta again (was: marxism-digest V1 #1420)

["João Paulo Monteiro" <jpmonteiro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

R.J.G.Alves wrote:

>  The PST (Partido Socialista de Timor) has not been part of the CNRT.
> They dissociated themselves from the FRETILIN-UDT strategy of giving
> priority to the diplomatic front in the early nineties, and they
> emphasised the armed struggle as the way to victory and independence.
> They vehemently rejected the agreement between Portugal an Indonesia for
> a referendum. However, they eventually took part in the referendum
> campaign,
> and started calling for UN troops to be sent once the agreement was
> announced
> in May.
>  The PST was formed after the Santa Cruz massacre (1991) with cadres
> from AST (Associacao Socialista de Timor) and with refugees in Portugal.
> Their following seems to be somehow smaller than the one of the
> FRETILIN.
> They campaigned for the liberation from the austrian embassy in Jakarta
> of Avelino da Silva, who was accused by Indonesia of being part of a
> terrorist group planning actions in the indonesian capital. The PST says
> no civilian targets would be attacked. Opposite to many other cases
> involving student activists, the portuguese government did not offer
> diplomatic support.
>  The PST's political program for the aftermath of the indepence is
> clearly
> to the left of the FRETILIN. A stronger presence of the state in most
> economical areas is the main difference.
>  The PST claims to have many commanders in FALINTIL (the "guerrilhas")
> amongst
> their followers. However, FALINTIL still recognises the CNRT as the
> leadership
> of the resistance and takes orders from Xanana Gusmao.
>

Excellent piece of information.
I heard that Ramos-Horta has treated very harshly a representant of the PST
in a recent debate on portuguese television, trying to marginalize him. Now
I can see why. For him, his beloved CNRT is the world. Horta these days is
even more full of himself than usual, above his "papillon". He clearly
entertains ideas of becoming a sort of east-timorese Cavour. Lets hope he
finds people back home ready to make life miserable for him.

Given the political culture of the east-timorese resistence, I'm not
surprised that dissactisfaction will spread rapidly with this strategy of
over-investment in the good graces of the "international community". If the
PST is ready to enchase this mood, I predict it will gain such mass
expression that it will be impossible to ignore. They are the real
inheritors of Nicolau Lobato and the early FRETILIN.


João Paulo Monteiro


P.S.
Caro Ricardo,
Sei que segues a lista na sua versão "digest". Mas quando enviares mensagens
lembra-te de emendar a linha de "subject" de forma a identificar o assunto
sobre que vais intervir. De outro modo, muita gente é capaz de não te ler.
Um abraço.