Re: Final (!) words to Jose and I hope the DSP as well

["Jose G. Perez" <jgperez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gary,

    I think it is an exaggeration to say that the DSP's slogans, etc., were,
in effect, like writing a blank check to the bourgeoisie. I didn't like it
because it seemed to me likely to be taken as an expression of confidence
that the Australian government was inclined to do what was being asked and
not something else. But the DSP made clear, I think, that they were calling
on Australia to send in troops to enforce the results of the referendum,
arrange an Indonesian withdrawal, stop the anti-independence pogrom and so
on.

    Nevertheless, I think it is much easier to maintain a stance of no
confidence if revolutionaries limit themselves to supporting the demands
that the group involved makes, rather than "escalating" them. The East
Timorese were calling on the UN to send forces. If you look at the Cuban
press release in response, you'll see they said something like, Okay, under
these circumstances as an exception but provided this things isn't used as
cover for imperialist designs and what really needs to be done anyways is to
recognize the independence of East Timor and provide aid to the new country.

    The latest Green Left Weekly, BTW, reports that Gusmao is demanding that
the UN force recognize Freitilin as a national liberation army and cease all
attempts to disarm it.  It does not appear that Gusmao, at least, is going
to accept the demands the imperialists are making.

Jose

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Monday, October 18, 1999 4:31 AM
Subject: Final (!) words to Jose and I hope the DSP as well


>Hi Jose,
>
>As always your post was very thought provoking.  I too am anxious not to
>get bogged down in the same round of arguments around East Timor.  I was
>then quite pleased to see we have such broad agreement between us.
>
>My bedrock feeling remains that we should never give a blank cheque to the
>bourgeoise.  We should never simply call for "Send in the troops'.  Such
>naive no-strings-attached support for the armies of the bourgeoise always
>leads to trouble.  After all is this not the lesson of the disaster of the
>Popular Front?
>
>That remains at the heart of the disagreement between myself and the DSP. I
>admire so much about their organisation and their paper that I have spent a
>good deal of time on the argument. As I have said repeatedly they *are*
>organised Marxism in Australia so what they say and do must be taken
>seriously by other Marxists.  I have endeavoured to do so.
>
>
>
>Warm regards
>
>Gary
>



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