[Marxism] East Timor

["Greg Adler" <gregadler@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nestor Gorojovsky said
"..But wanted to stress something,Louis, and it is that on my East Tmor 
analysis I was not projecting the South Atlantic on the Coral Sea."

Just as well given that East Timor and Timor in general is in the Timor Sea 
seperated from the Coral Sea by over a thousand miles.

It's not an insignificant issue ( in Latin American terms its a bit like 
mistaking Chile for Argentina) because a large part of the neo-colonial 
relationship with Australia revolves around the exploitation of the oil 
resources in the Timor Sea.

The proposition that East Timor should have joined in the Indonesian struggle 
against colonialism is a little more complex than Nestor appears to recognise 
as the colonial power in East Timor was Portugal while that in Indonesia was 
Holland.

It is not the case that the only choice for East Timor was to exist as a part 
of Indonesia or in a neo-colonial relationship with Australia. The previous 
Fretilin dominated government of Prime Minister Alkitiri was not without fault 
but at least showed a degree of thinking that could give an independent 
development to East Timor and drove as hard a bargain as it could with 
Australia over its oil resources and how to use the income from them.

The Neo-Liberal government of Gusmao and Ramos Horta brought to power with the 
assistance of another humanitarian intervention by Australian imperialism has 
tied itself to the neo-colonial path.

Ramos Horta has been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the invasion of 
Iraq and has been gushing in his praise of Australia whether led by Howard or 
Rudd.

It is perfectly understandable that comrades in or from Latin America are 
censorious of western marxists who offer nostrums based on scant knowledge of 
the conditions in that area of the world.

In turn if they are to comment on developments elsewhere it should be on a 
foundation of reasonable knowledge.
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