East Timor to get Self-determination May 20, 2002. - Salute

[Valkyrie]

East Timor

East Timor will become the world's newest nation on May 20, 2002. At midnight, the United Nations transitional administration will hand over control to the East Timorese government, and the East Timorese will have achieved their long-sought goal of self-determination.

Currently East Timor and Australia are negotiating a treaty to jointly develop petroleum in the Timor Gap, an area previously subject to a treaty between Australia and Indonesia. This agreement would give 90% of the profit to East Timor and 10% to the Australians. With these revenue possibilities as well as international support from donor governments will this allow for an independent East Timor? A recent article by La'o Hamutuk states that "most donor governments are reluctant to give funds directly to the new East Timor government and are lobbying for the World Bank to act as the middle man." For the past two years the World Bank has managed the Timorese fund and disbursed it to projects controlled by the World Bank. Walking around the city there are no signs of how those funds were allocated as the destructive remains of Indonesian occupation is still apparent.

[I Will Deny You]

Finally! This is great news. The people of East Timor deserved their independence a long time ago. I was just wondering . . . do you have any information on the relationship that the current Indonesian government will have with East Timor? Will the Indonesian government have to pay reparations? The US government should have to, considering the fact that they funded Suharto's massacres. Well, anyway, this is great to hear.

Lindsay

[Valkyrie]

NO, that's all I know right now. But, I can tell you, the World Bank has got to remove itself from the situation and let these people totally determine their destiny on their own without interference from a thrid-party, espcecially one being that tri-evil world bank.

[Borincano]

Why did the USA support the Indonesian government again East Timor?

I think it's unlikely that the Indonesian gov't will pay reparations, but they should, especially after they killed thousands and burned over 80% of their buildings.

I am happy they voted for and fought for their independence when it came, and shouldn't have but did, to that point. I hope Puerto Rico is the next independent nation!

[Maaja]

Long live East Timor! It's great that they finally caught the independence, they ruly deserve it. And the new president is great too, all the legends that they do have about him... simple people do think that he is a bird!:)

[BOZG]

Great news. Hopefully East Timor is just the first in a line of countries to gain their independance and their "freedom".

[Maaja]

There are so many countries I would like to see free... Tibet, Tatarstan, Chechnya, East-Turkestan... I would put at least 50 more names here!

[I Will Deny You]

Quote: from Borincano on 12:32 am on May 19, 2002
Why did the USA support the Indonesian government again East Timor?
Taxpayer money was used to buy weapons for Suharto, which is illegal (but no one cared). It was just another one of Kissy's pet projects.

Lindsay

[Borincano]

Maaja,

I would to see Tibet become an independent nation as well. Though it is unlikely, it would be great for their self-esteem, the near destruction of their culture by the Chinese and their mass migration plan for their crowded country. Tibet and Puerto Rico have many social and historical similarities in terms of colonialization.

[Valkyrie]

The North of Ireland I would like to see gain their self-dertermination. They have perhaps fought consistantly longer than any peoples for their freedom and unification. They may have a temporary peace with the Good Friday Agreement, but they are still bent over the knee of the British Government.

A small reminder that comrades Bobby Sands; an elected member of Parliament, Francis Hughes, Patsy O'Hara and Ray McCreesh died 21 years ago this month on Hunger strike in a British Prison for the cause of Irish freedom.

[BOZG]

I would also like to see N Ireland released from the British but it must be on the conditions that the North becomes a seperate nation to both Ireland and Britain. There will never be any peace in the North unless the people are free from all colonisation.

Bobby Sands - May 5th
Francis Hughes - May 12th
Patsy O'Hara - May 21st
Ray McCreesh - May 21st

[Foo]

Good to hear East Timor has its independence.Im Australian and we have had many troops over there with NATO over the past few years to help the Timorese organise and protect there land till yesterday.
They are Australias 2nd closest neighbour now so naturally we are looking after them.
Good to see that we hopefully ownt have any violecne over there for as long as possible.
Foo!