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The Popular Front: Timor-Leste remains fundamentally Fretilin
by finch Friday, Apr 13 2007, 11:32am
international / social/political / commentary

Regardless of the destabilising intervention of Australia/USA via Major Reinado and the current occupation, Fretilin remains the principal political force in East Timor. Its roots extend to the beginnings of national identity forged during the bloody resistance campaigns against Indonesia's attempt to annex the tiny nation. After 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule and the recent violent interventions of foreign interests, the tiny nation of Timor-Leste has learnt the value of freedom and independence. The East Javanese left may have influenced the early political leanings of Fretilin, however, today's Fretilin is fervently nationalistic and rejects all forms of foreign interference.

Australian occupation forces in Dili

Former independence leaders, Jose Ramos Horta and Xanana Gusmao have clearly jumped ship and are now in bed with foreign (oil) interests. In view of the quite obvious distinction between local interests as opposed to foreign interests the nationalist Fretilin group gained 29% of the popular vote with western interests represented by Horta gaining 23%. The stage is set for the pre-planned “runoff” – what a farce! No doubt a very close election will result in victory for the western lackey, Ramos Horta. The locals however, may not ‘fall’ for the obviously stage-managed ‘free and fair’ elections? [We expect the introduction of computerised voting, Florida style, to soon be implemented in all western nations – the charade of ‘democracy’ must be maintained while corporate interests ply their rapacious, violent, polluting and inequitable trade.]

The recent discovery of a number of sealed ballot boxes and accusations of impropriety by the Ramos Horta faction will not be allowed to disturb the pre-planned proceedings. Regardless of the anticipated outcome of the (western) supervised, ‘free and fair’ elections, Timor-Leste will never surrender her very costly independence to foreign interests – the people have everything to gain and nothing to lose in the fight to maintain sovereignty.

Viva Timor-Leste!

COMMENTS

Aussies behaving like Yanks
by Herald staff report via rialator - smh.com.au Friday, Apr 13 2007, 7:59pm

Dili anger over Australian raids

Dili residents are angry about the latest Australian military operations, apparently undertaken to increase pressure on the fugitive Major Alfredo Reinado.

Eight Reinado family members were detained during a night-time raid on their central Dili home on Monday, a move prompting criticism from human rights watchdog Yayasan Hak.

"The soldiers think Alfredo is in Dili. His uncle Victor Alves's house was encircled, and relatives taken to an Australian camp for questioning," rights activist Jose Luis Oliveira said.

He said they were interrogated for four hours.

"Among the questions asked was how they voted in the elections," Oliveira said.

"This is a violation of human rights."

On Thursday, houses in the inner suburb of Kampung Alor were surrounded and searched around 4pm (local time), raising occupants' hackles.

Widow Rosa Soares said soldiers entered her house with guns in hands.

"They held up a photo of Major Alfredo and asked if I had seen him. Then they went through each room, searching drawers, and pulling things out," she said.

Next-door neighbour Ana Maria was alone with three children when soldiers appeared at her front door, but in this case they asked permission to enter.

She said they searched each room, pulling out drawers and overturning mattresses.

"We were scared," she said.

"My son Iko asked: 'Mummy why are foreigners searching our house?"'

A spokesman for Australia's International Stabilisation Force (ISF) denied Thursday's operation was linked to Reinado, or that any homes had been entered.

"UN police and ISF forces conducted operations in relation to electoral security," he said.

"Our targets were gangs and illegal weapons."

He said "many illegal weapons" were confiscated, including a home-made rifle.

Ana Maria said the troops returned things to their place before leaving, but Ms Soares said they left her house in disarray, as did neighbour Jacinto de Andrade, a deputy for the opposition Social Democrat Association.

"They forced entry," he said.

"These troops were supposed to come here to free us, not to violate our rights. This system reminds us of Indonesian times."

The spokesman denied the charges.

"We did not enter any houses," he said.

The ISF is currently sending regular unsolicited SMS messages to mobile phones in East Timor calling on Reinado to surrender.

"We want a peaceful solution-when are Reinado and his fugitives coming to check this with us?" an army text sent out to Dili phones last night asked.

AAP

© 2007. The Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/dili-anger-over-australian-raids/2007/04/14/1175971406317.html