PeterMilk,
I agree completely. Morris' article is trash. You can't whitewash the Indonesian invasion and the use of that poor country as a place for the Indonesian military to increase their rank. Timorese have the right to self-determination which they legitimately exercised in 1999 in favor of independence.

Maracas,
Having said the above, this is where I disagree with you. FACT NUMBER ONE - We can beat about the bush all we like, but the current troubles in East Timor are completely caused by the East Timorese people themselves. It's just masturbation to blame the UN, Indonesia, Australia. I'm surprised someone hasn't blamed George Bush yet. Any takers?

What we are seeing in 2006 is a sad replay of 1975 all over again minus the invasion. I was in Jakarta in 1998. I watched how an unpopular and undemocratic dictator was overthrown within 6 months of him no longer being able to deliver the economic goods. People don't generally burn and loot in a country where the government is democratically elected, manages the economy and listens to complaints. What do you think is motivating the protesters?

BOAZ_David,
I was in Dili in 1991 when there were many Indonesians. After the referendum, there are VERY few. There are just a few Indonesian women married to Timorese men as well as a community of a few hundred Indonesian muslims from Sumatra who live near the mosque, but I heard most of them have left too.

Part 2
Maracas said: "The people doing the burning and looting are anti- government elements, do you expect Alkatiri to accept their manipulators as an alternative Government ?"

Yes, I do expect Alkatiri, if he's a democrat, to accept those opposed to his rule (eg. PD, PSD, PST) as an alternative government. Do you expect the non-Fretilin groups to accept Alkatiri's death squads and militia as the acts of a legitimate government?

Rogindon
Alkatiri would concede if the parties you support for Government were elected.. But they were not. Fretilin was elected with an overwhelming majority and they will be again because they have the support of the majority of the people.

I am surprised you have accepted the allegations of Alkatiri setting up death squads and militias from amongst the rebels He doesn't need death squads when he has a big majority from a democratic election.. Didn't he just sack them ?.There is not one shred of evidence. Horta is taking advantage of the allegations from rebels which are unsubstantiated.. Have you noticed that he coyly says he finds it hard to believe ..But he is willing to accept the position of Prime Minister if asked.?( e tu Brutus !! )

Ask yourself why Gerald Ford and Henry Kissinger O.K'd the Indonesian invasion in 1975 and given that fact, do you not think the USA is concerned about Alkatiri developing relations with Cuba and not capable of some CIA interference ? and John Howard being pissed off that Australia has not been offered development contracts of East Timors Oil and Gas resources but discussions taking place with China .

Good on you for presenting an alternative (and potentially inflammatory) view of Timor. I don't necessarily agree with everything you say, but I'm impressed that you said it and cast a fresh angle on the goings-on in the region.

A couple of thoughts, though.

The first is that a lot of what you say reads suspiciously like Indonesian propaganda I have read. It's good to see what the other side is saying, but a bit of balance would have been good. Perhaps it is true, perhaps not. I've never credited the Indonesian propaganda juggernaut with much respect for truth, but you never know.

The second is your attack on Christianity in the region. True, it is a source of conflict, but it has been there for 500 years now. Islam was also an immigrant faith, having arrived something like 600-700 years earlier. Both are firmly rooted in their respective populations.

The reality is, as you say, today's Timorese ARE fighting each other and can NOT blame Indonesia for their problems. I don't know that they were much better off under Indonesian rule, but they probably weren't much worse off either.

Anyone who worships Fidel Castro is destined for their own destruction. But the legacy of such depravity as Marxism, there is no room for reality, is there?

I agree. Some great points of view on this issue.

The question is why were 600 soldiers sacked from the army?

It is also apparent developing democracies tend to go through a period of overthrowing leaderships by force.

Amongst this is a division of community groups which ignites at the same time.

The next question is, why did it get to this stage?

You would have thought that with Australia's first intervention and the amount of money spent by Australian tax payers, that our Governments ties with regards to its development and progress would have been courtously monitored, in a cost saving exercise for futures risks to the region.

It's a "No Brainer"!