What is the “international community” really doing in East Timor? After their arrival almost two weeks ago, Australian troops have secured only the capital, Dili, and a few towns.
In West Timor, fewer than a dozen foreign aid workers struggle to guarantee the safety of 230,000 refugees, including 35,000 children, while the power of life and death remains with the Indonesian military.
An explanation is offered in a remarkable interview given by John Howard, the Australian prime minister, in which he described his government as Washington’s deputy sheriff. What mattered was the “stability” of Indonesia, and the protection of western business interests. His honesty, or garrulousness, is to be applauded, along with his historical accuracy. From the Boxer rebellion to Vietnam, Australians have fought the battles of the great imperial powers. In 1989, Australian troops were sent to Bougainville, an island
— source johnpilger.com | john pilger | 5 Oct 1999