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Balibo, 32 years of Australian Cowardice
by peptide Tuesday, May 29 2007, 10:00pm
international / peace/war / commentary

The infamous Balibo murders perfectly illustrate Australian cowardice and Indonesian barbarity. It should be stated from the outset that the truth of the cold-blooded murder of the Balibo five has been known since the day of the crime in 1975. The cringing attitude displayed by successive Australian governments toward the barbaric Indonesians has made Australia a laughing stock in Asia. All successive Labor and Liberal governments that perpetuated the lie of a tragic accident (caught in a cross-fire) are guilty of criminal suppression of the truth and criminal collusion with the murderers -- grubby oil deals notwithstanding.

Gareth Evans and Whitlam

The Timor Gap Treaty, negotiated to a large extent by former Labor minister Gareth Evans, could ill-afford a scandal involving high ranking officials in the Indonesian government and military, all embarrassing and incriminating material relating to the murders would henceforth be backgrounded -- justice, national pride and identity have not recovered since.

The statement, “assurances were given ...” made by Jakarta Governor (former General) Sutiyoso, following an alleged illegal entry into his Sydney hotel room by local authorities refers less to the current Australian government than it does to previous Labor and Liberal governments; indeed, assurances were given that no flak would come of the cold-blooded murder of five innocent Australians in Balibo – that was before Australia’s recent oil and gas deals with occupied Timor Leste.

Is late better than never when the truth has been suppressed for so long? Thirty-two years after the event the coroners inquest finally discovers grounds for criminal prosecution! While relatives and other involved parties may derive some comfort from the coroner, justice will never be served, as the perpetrators are safe in Indonesia. So much for the coroner’s political proceedings! However, the present gambit between Australia and Indonesia would indicate that the deputy sheriff may have received an order from the sheriff – time will no doubt reveal the nature of the ingredient in Australia’s new courage potion, leopards do not change their cringing, cowardly spots overnight!

The hotel room ‘encounter’ resulting in the hurried return of former General Sutiyoso to the safety of Indonesian soil where he rallied support and demanded an apology is probably less amusing than Howard pooping his pants at the sight of president Yudhoyono but it is amusing nevertheless. The president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono continues to amuse dinner guests by recounting how he surprised a “visibly shaken” John Howard on his early morning walk!

Regardless of the circumstances that led to the new ‘brave heart’ Australia, the new posturing is a refreshing change from the money laundering junkets to Christmas Island by corrupt Indonesians laden with suitcases of cash – hundreds of millions were legitimised via an excised casino on the island, courtesy of a former Labor prime minister, Paul Keating!

It should now be clear to both governments that a future war is inevitable, the race by both nations for nuclear ‘power’ has been noted.

Yudhoyono and Howard, eyeballing

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