Timor-Leste: Australian occupier reluctant to provide crucial information! - International Imperialism

Timor-Leste: Australian occupier reluctant to provide crucial information!
by finch Tuesday, Apr 22 2008, 9:22pm
international / imperialism / commentary

Bureaucratic procedure/red-tape does not ‘cut it’ between heads of state so why is Australia stalling for time? Perhaps to protect some very important arses; we wouldn’t want to compromise certain individuals who were involved in the removal of the previous nationalist leader, Mari Alkatiri, from power. It is no secret Alkatiri refused to enslave his tiny but potentially rich nation to western oil interests via World Bank economic slavery loans – we have seen it all before in Africa, the Indian sub-continent and Latin America!

The Transnational oil companies were straining at the bit to exploit the oil and gas reserves of this El Dorado of the South Pacific so Alkatiri had to go – he was a bloody ‘communist obstructionist’ anyway, according to the Australian trained, Major Reinado!

However, it was Alkatiri’s opposition to the 80-20 oil profit arrangement – in Australia’s favour -- that instigated his removal from power. How dare this little darkie demand the major portion of the nation’s wealth remain with the people and the nation -- the hide of this little darkie! The then internationally embarrassed Australian Foreign minister, Alexander Downer, was forced to enter into a new fairer arrangement regarding oil deals with the tiny new state.

It should not be forgotten that former president of the World Bank, Paul ‘PNAC’ Wolfowitz, was also given his marching orders by that ‘insolent little darkie,’ Alkatiri. It was clear Alkatiri had to go and his removal from power was duly effected by the Australian trained, Alfredo Reinado; a classic pawn of western interests!

The role of Xanana Gusmao should not be forgotten, he is the West’s representative in the current Timorese puppet government and was a principal player in the removal of Alkatiri – but that is no secret these days. However, his role in the recent assassination of Reinado and the wounding of Ramos-Horta is currently under investigation. A rope would be a fitting end for this brazen traitor and Western lackey; however, Nobel Laureate Ramos-Horta, is careful to follow due process, as the stakes are high and there is no room for error.

Meanwhile China waits patiently in the background ready to assist at a moment’s notice! China’s non-interventionist foreign policy is certainly preferable to the West’s overt meddling!

Australia has a history of monumental failures and disasters and it would not be surprising to see it lose everything in the region. We are all reminded of Aussie ‘expertise’ on ANZAC (military disaster) day and the recently discovered wreck of HMAS Sydney, which confirms the Captain disregarded every rule of naval engagement to be sunk with all 645 hands by a vastly inferior German raider. The Sydney has entered history as the single worst naval disaster of WWII – ‘I love a sunburnt bunch of fuckwits and incompetent morons!’ Should we mention the more recent Howard government $25 billion fixed/flat-rate NorthWest shelf gas deal with China – ‘done like a dinner,’ Aussie, you tragic case!

But to return to the story. Australia has new leadership, a ‘bells and whistles’ but no substance phoney PM, Kevin ‘show pony’ Rudd and a new Foreign Minister, Stephen ‘kneepads’ Smith. Neither of these men are equipped with the means to deal effectively with the situation – so let’s have the (now tampered with) records; we are still able to expose inept efforts to hide the culpable and criminally liable. The optimum scenario would be a total expose, so give it your best shot, you bungling Aussie buffoons!

In the present circumstances, business with the non-interventionist Chinese would be preferable to the intrigues, bungles and murders of Australian and U.S. interests!

[Slowly but surely, Jose!]

Viva, Timor-Leste!

I take your point on Gallipoli and and the HMAS Sydney BUT ..... read on:

Fri Apr 25, 2008

Villers-Bretonneux remembers decisive battle 90 years on

by Stephanie Kennedy

The French town of Villers-Bretonneux lies just south of the River Somme, set in wide, green fields, its church steeple clearly visible far and wide.

Like many towns and villages on the Somme, it was beautiful, but of little significance to Australia, until the savage events of the Great War. Like many villages in the area, the war reduced Villers-Bretonneux to little more than rubble and marked a moment in history when a special link was forged between that corner of France and the land down under.

Thousands of Australians fought on the Western Front. Villers-Bretonneux is where those diggers had one their greatest World War I victories.

After the disaster of Gallipoli, tens of thousands of soldiers from the Australian Imperial Force were sent to fight the Germans in the muddy and bloody trenches of France and Belgium. It was not in the trenches, though, where they had their greatest glory, but in one small village.

In March 1918, the Germans launched a major offensive to take the strategic town of Amiens. As the Germans moved westwards towards their goal, they captured Villers-Bretonneux on 23 April. The British high command feared that if the Germans moved on to take Amiens, the war would be lost. The job of retaking Villers-Bretonneux was assigned to two Australian brigades.

The plan was to encircle and trap the Germans. There would be no preliminary bombardment. Instead the Australians would launch a surprise attack at night. Two battalions would begin the assault from the south towards the east of Villers-Bretonneux while three battalions would attack from the north at the same time.

The assault began at 10pm on 24 April. It was a do-or-die attack. The diggers took out the German machine guns then fought the enemy in a ferocious house-to-house confrontation. One German officer later wrote that the Australians 'were magnificent, nothing seemed to stop them. When our fire was heaviest, they just disappeared in shell holes and came up as soon as it slackened.'

By dawn on 25 April, exactly three years after the Anzacs stormed ashore at Gallipoli, the Australians had broken through the German positions and the French and Australian flags were raised over Villers-Bretonneux. It took the rest of the day and into the next to secure the town. But secure it they did and the Anzacs established a new front line, marking the end of the German offensive on the Somme. A British General called the Anzac attack 'perhaps the greatest individual feat of the war'.

But it came at a huge cost for Australia. 1200 died saving the village.

The French, though, have never forgotten the sacrifice. The Australian flag still flies over Villers-Bretonneux. A plaque outside the Town Hall tells the story of events in the town in 1918. Kangaroos feature over the entrance to the Town Hall. The main street is named Rue de Melbourne.

The children of Villers-Bretonneux are especially indebted to Australia. After the war, it was money donated from schoolchildren in Victoria that paid for the rebuilding of the village school. It was named Victoria School and a plaque recalls the diggers' sacrifice:

'Twelve hundred Australian soldiers, the fathers and brothers of these children, gave their lives in the heroic recapture of this town from the invader on 24th April 1918 and are buried near this spot. May the memory of great sacrifices in a common cause keep France and Australia together forever in bonds of friendship and mutual esteem.'

Emblazoned across a building in the main playground of Victoria School and above the schools blackboards are the words 'DO NOT FORGET AUSTRALIA'. Carvings of kangaroos, koalas and platypuses decorate the school hall. Ninety years after the historic battle, the children of Villers-Bretonneux continue to learn about the soldiers from half a world away who liberated their town from the German enemy.

More officially, recognition of the significance of the battle in Villers-Bretonneux is found at the Australian National Memorial, which was built just outside the town. It commemorates all Australians who fought in France and Belgium and includes the names of 10,772 who died in France and have no known grave.

Each year, a small Anzac Day ceremony is held at the memorial to mark the sacrifice made by the diggers. This year though, is special. Those who have campaigned for many years for a dawn service at Villers-Bretonneux will have their dream realised on this 90th anniversary of the battle.

Five thousand people are expected to attend, including many from the town itself. For them, the long distance to Australia will always be bridged by the blood of Australia's sons given to secure French freedom.

© 2008 ABC

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