Reluctant Saviour: Australia, Indonesia, and the Independence of East TimorExposing the role of the so-called Jakarta Lobby--Australian officials whose policies supported the Indonesian military regime and public commentators who defend these policies in the public sphere--this inquiry contends that under their influence, the government of Prime Minister John Howard worked assiduously to support Indonesia's occupation of East Timor, trying hard to prevent a ballot of independence. That it was only pressure from activists and the broader public that forced the Howard government to send a peacekeeping force and reluctantly help East Timor to achieve independence is also revealed. |
Contents
Contents | 1 |
the Howard government | 26 |
CHAPTER THREE Implausible denial | 47 |
Copyright | |
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action activists activities agreed allow ambassador announced armed army attack Australian government authorities autonomy ballot become began called campaign claim clear Clinton command committed Committee conference continued course debt decision Defence demanded Department deployment Dili discussed Downer East Timor economic fact final Foreign Affairs foreign minister government's groups Habibie Howard government human rights important increase independence Indonesian government Indonesian military intelligence interests involvement issue Jakarta lobby Labor later leaked major March meeting Melbourne MICHIGAN militia minister Morning observers occurred official operations opposition organised Party peace peacekeeping force planners political population presence president Press pressure prevent problem protests referendum regime relations remains reports representatives response result saying Senate senior September 1999 significant situation society statements strategic Suharto Sydney Timorese Trade troops trying Union United University violence warned workers