.
By JAMES DUNN a on 14/06/2010 - ILLAWARA MERCURY
A decade ago events in East Timor were uppermost in our minds. Australia was playing a leading role in the devastated nation's reconstruction, and in the shaping of its democracy.
As Australians saw it we had just rescued the Timorese from Indonesia's harsh colonial embrace. We were rather paternalistic about our leading role in building up an independent nation, with the kind of democracy that would go towards atoning for the cruel suffering we had shamefully helped inflict on these people, by accommodating Suharto's annexation.
Ten years ago, under a UN mandate, East Timor was big news, and Australians were seen by Timorese as their rescuers, inspired by memories of the much-admired World War II commando force. When I addressed their first congress, several of those present suggested that General Peter Cosgrove be invited to be their first president. Australians, for their part, were proclaiming this country as East Timor's future protector, both from security and economic points of view, often somewhat patronisingly.
Today the scenario is rather different. With independence, and with Indonesia's shift towards democracy, Australia began to lose interest, and the East Timorese began to look elsewhere for aid and inspiration.
Our presence there, economically and diplomatically, is still strong, but there is now a widening gap in the political relationship. Recently we were reminded of this, when we came in for strong criticism from Timorese political leaders, in particular Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
East Timor may still be on our agenda but its place there is inconspicuous. The slide in relations began when the UNTAET mandate ended and tortuous negotiations over the Timor Gap Treaty started, originally a shameful deal between Canberra and Jakarta when Gareth Evans was foreign minister.
Recent attempts by Prime Minister Gusmao to get a better outcome for East Timor in talks with Woodside have been unproductive, leading to outbursts from Gusmao about our past dark role.
.
By JAMES DUNN a on 14/06/2010 - ILLAWARA MERCURY
A decade ago events in East Timor were uppermost in our minds. Australia was playing a leading role in the devastated nation's reconstruction, and in the shaping of its democracy.
As Australians saw it we had just rescued the Timorese from Indonesia's harsh colonial embrace. We were rather paternalistic about our leading role in building up an independent nation, with the kind of democracy that would go towards atoning for the cruel suffering we had shamefully helped inflict on these people, by accommodating Suharto's annexation.
Ten years ago, under a UN mandate, East Timor was big news, and Australians were seen by Timorese as their rescuers, inspired by memories of the much-admired World War II commando force. When I addressed their first congress, several of those present suggested that General Peter Cosgrove be invited to be their first president. Australians, for their part, were proclaiming this country as East Timor's future protector, both from security and economic points of view, often somewhat patronisingly.
Today the scenario is rather different. With independence, and with Indonesia's shift towards democracy, Australia began to lose interest, and the East Timorese began to look elsewhere for aid and inspiration.
Our presence there, economically and diplomatically, is still strong, but there is now a widening gap in the political relationship. Recently we were reminded of this, when we came in for strong criticism from Timorese political leaders, in particular Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
East Timor may still be on our agenda but its place there is inconspicuous. The slide in relations began when the UNTAET mandate ended and tortuous negotiations over the Timor Gap Treaty started, originally a shameful deal between Canberra and Jakarta when Gareth Evans was foreign minister.
Recent attempts by Prime Minister Gusmao to get a better outcome for East Timor in talks with Woodside have been unproductive, leading to outbursts from Gusmao about our past dark role.
.
0 comentários:
Enviar um comentário