Civil war in East Timor

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 14

Civil war in East Timor

East Timor is plunged deep in a civil war which appears as senseless as it is cruel. All pretence of negotiating for pow’er appears to have been abandoned in favour of the expedient of eliminating political opponents. Portugal needed to act much earlier and much more decisively in its colony, but has been caught up in its own confusion and subjected to greater pressures from Angola. Now Portugal wants to send its former Overseas Minister, Mr Antonio de Almeida Santos, to East Timor, but does not know how to guarantee his safety there. In any case it is doubtful if the Minister’s mission would do any good: there is confusion in East Timor largely because there is confusion in Portugal. However skilful a negotiator the Minister may be he would need the authority of a strong Government behind him. That is precisely the element he would lack.

Two parties seem to be the main factions in East Timor. The Timor Democratic Union (U.D.T.) which attempted to seize power earlier this month is battling Fretilin, considered the more radical group. In fact both groups want independence for East Timor. Possibly the argument is about ideology, for the U.D.T. may fear that Fretilin would take the country too far to the Left, which might upset the wealthier U.D.T. members and also invite the intervention of Indonesia, which rules the western part of the island.

Three solutions to Timor’s problems have been advanced: continued association with Portugal, independence, or amalgamation with Indonesia. Since no political party now wants continued association with Portugal, that option seems closed. The tidiest solution is amalgamation with Indonesia and one party. Apodeti, favours that. Both Indonesia and Australia would find East Timor’s incorporation into Indonesia the best solution. But Indonesia protests almost daily that it has no intention of annexing East Timor unless it threatens Indonesia’s integrity. Independence would bring problems of its own because of the poverty of East Timor and the fact that about 90 per cent of the people are illiterate. Lack of economic viability and poverty have not however, deterred those who wanted independence in some other States. Undoubtedly East Timor would need substantial aid: there might be a chance for Australia, Indonesia, and Portuga’ to co-operate in helping East Timor.

At ’he moment terror dominates the eastern part of the island, not a will to work towards political solutions Indonesia is obviously extremely reluctant to use troons to imnose order Portugal also seems ro'octart If th® ki’ling is to be stopned probably only a Lmted Nations force is in a position to do it.