Editorial:
Time for a new foreign policy

The UN peacekeeping force led by an Australian General has moved into 
Dili and is beginning to fan out to other regions of East Timor. They are 
finding a horrifying situation of death and destruction — burnt villages, 
the infrastructure destroyed, unknown thousands abducted and others 
massacred. Savage revenge was meted out to the East Timorese people for 
their overwhelming vote for independence. Similar treatment is in store for 
the people of Aceh and West Papua should they follow the path of the East 
Timorese people.

The longer-term consequences of the events in East Timor and Indonesia are 
yet to be fully assessed and this is going to take many months if not 
years. The struggle goes on in Indonesia itself with students and workers 
holding mass demonstrations in Jakarta streets against the attempt of the 
Indonesian military to grab more power — not to hold on to East Timor, 
that is lost to them — but to maintain the suppression of the Indonesian 
people. This struggle could result in a new military dictatorship or a more 
democratic form of government interested in the social and economic 
progress of the people.

It is time, however, for the Australian people and Government to thoroughly 
review the policies which were pursued by successive governments towards 
the military-fascist regime imposed in 1965 by the now deposed General 
Suharto.

Right to the last moment, the Howard Government attempted to support the 
Indonesian Government in its intention to hold on to the province of East 
Timor. Furthermore, the Australian Government knew what was going to happen 
in East Timor. They had been told by numerous people on the ground there.

The Australian and other governments as well as the United Nations also 
have blood on their hands because they delayed and did next to nothing 
while the slaughter got underway.

The whole basis of the foreign policy of Australia and other Western 
governments has to change, otherwise more disasters, wars and killings will 
take place.

Australia's foreign policy is based on power and the supposed dominance of 
the European and North American imperialist countries. They lecture all 
others about democratic and human rights while underneath these high-
sounding slogans is the iron fist to force others to do what they are told.

The Western countries not only dream about the former days of colonialism, 
they are actively attempting to re-impose their domination. Furthermore, 
they are prepared to use all methods — economic and political pressure, 
cultural penetration and, if all else fails, military conquest.

Of course, this is not so easy at the end of the 20th century when nearly 
all countries have won their political independence and now have 
substantial economies, technical know-how and military forces of their own 
and are not willing to be dictated to by the West any more.

The full extent of these changes is not yet realised or accepted by Western 
governments. In the present situation the response of the Australian 
Government is likely to be yet more military and naval expenditure. There 
are already demands for an additional $3 billion per year of military 
expenditure. There is talk of national service — meaning conscription.

Australia's foreign policy should be based on the principles which are, in 
fact, incorporated in the Charter of the United Nations — non-aggression, 
respect for the independence and sovereignty of all countries, non-
interference in the internal affairs of other countries, equality of 
countries both big and small, respect for the cultures and political 
practices of others and trade based on mutual assistance. These are not 
merely principles for Australia but should be implemented by all countries.

They do not mean that we have no right to an opinion about what goes on in 
other countries but that disputes between nations should be dealt with 
within the United Nations as the only existing and universal international 
body. 

There is no recognition yet that the foreign policies of Australian 
Governments have failed and that a continuation of them will lead into a 
blind alley and even more devastating defeats and perhaps real dangers for 
Australia.
Back to index page