From: policyresearch@mediamonitors.net
Indonesia, East Timor and The Western Powers
A Case Study of
The Role of Western Foreign
Policy in
Conflict Creation and
Peace Sabotage
Complete report [270KB]:
http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq25.html
In the wake of the 11th September 2001 attacks on the United States, the formation of an international coalition against terrorism under American leadership has been based on the conventional premise that Western civilisation has some sort of superior moral status within world order which permits it to be the principal initiator of a war on terror. The idea that the Western powers may have a systematic role in perpetrating terror, undermining democracy and promoting human rights abuses around the world to secure their strategic and economic interests poses a severe challenge to the notion that the West can play a meaningful role in combating terror. Indeed, if established, it demonstrates that the same powers who have no qualms about perpetrating terror and repression in the name of their interests, are hardly going to be key opponents of terrorism.
This paper analyses the developments of Western foreign policy towards Indonesia and East Timor in the post-World War II period with the aim of examining the degree to which Western foreign policy is genuinely formulated with the intent to promote human rights, conflict resolution and world peace, and thus put an end to terrorism. Indeed, Indonesia and East Timor are prime examples of how Western foreign policy actually systematically results in the violation of human rights, the support of terror, the creation of conflict and the sabotage of peace. Policy, it seems, is formulated primarily on the basis of achieving regional strategic and economic interests, with humanitarian principles being systematically sidelined. In this context, we must view Western claims to be harbingers of humanitarianism, leading a genuine war against terrorism, with much skepticism.
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Indonesia, East Timor and The Western Powers
A Case Study of The Role of Western Foreign Policy in Conflict Creation and Peace Sabotage
by Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed
Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed is a political analyst and human rights activist based in London. He is Director of the Institute for Policy Research & Development and a Researcher at the Islamic Human Rights Commission.
Contents and Introduction:
Contents
I. The Crusade in Indonesia
I.I Sweeping Indonesia
Clean
I.II The Installation of Suharto
II. Annexing East Timor
II.I The Balibo Declaration
and Other Political Frauds
II.II Explicit Western Approval
of Indonesia’s Invasion
II.III Impact of the Invasion and
the Ensuing Conflict
II.IV The Arms Ban and the Escalation
of Genocide
II.V Diplomatic and Financial Perpetuation
of the Conflict
III. Western Humanitarian
Intervention
III.I The Referendum
III.II The Escalation of Atrocities
With Western Support
III.III Belated UN Intervention
III.IV Western Interests In Indonesia
and East Timor
III.V The Real Agenda for Intervention
Introduction
In the wake of the 11th September 2001 attacks on the United States, the formation of an international coalition against terrorism under American leadership has been based on the conventional premise that Western civilisation has some sort of superior moral status within world order which permits it to be the principal initiator of a war on terror. The idea that the Western powers may have a systematic role in perpetrating terror, undermining democracy and promoting human rights abuses around the world to secure their strategic and economic interests poses a severe challenge to the notion that the West can play a meaningful role in combating terror. Indeed, if established, it demonstrates that the same powers who have no qualms about perpetrating terror and repression in the name of their interests, are hardly going to be key opponents of terrorism.
This paper analyses the developments of Western foreign policy towards Indonesia and East Timor in the post-World War II period with the aim of examining the degree to which Western foreign policy is genuinely formulated with the intent to promote human rights, conflict resolution and world peace, and thus put an end to terrorism. Indeed, Indonesia and East Timor are prime examples of how Western foreign policy actually systematically results in the violation of human rights, the support of terror, the creation of conflict and the sabotage of peace. Policy, it seems, is formulated primarily on the basis of achieving regional strategic and economic interests, with humanitarian principles being systematically sidelined. In this context, we must view Western claims to be harbingers of humanitarianism, leading a genuine war against terrorism, with much skepticism.
See also:
BD: The Current World Crisis & East Timor - A collection of statements on the recent terrorist attacks in the US and the subsequent 'war on terrorism'
BD: Military and political aid to Indonesia - A collection of recent reports, articles and news
BD: War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity - A collection of recent press releases, petitions, articles and news
BD: TIMOR OIL - A collection of recent reports, position statements, petitions, articles and news