The study criticizes some policy initiatives which arose in response to the series of multiple victim shootings we've seen over the past two years. In one example, a Texas bill proposed making eleven year-olds eligible for the death penalty. In January, Indonesian President Habibie surprised the world by announcing that the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, which Indonesia invaded and occupied in 1975, would be allowed to choose between autonomy within Indonesia and independence. Some have only clubs and machetes, others are newly trained and armed by the ABRI, but all operate without interference from the Army. East Timor votes for independence.
Confusion prevails at all levels.
A small army unit now guards Bishop Belo's home. During the mayhem in Dili, some army units protected civilians, others joked with the killers, still others did nothing. The Australian Government is clearly concerned at the prospect of a possible civil war on its doorstep which could produce a flood of refugees. More and more newspapers in Australia have called for the immediate deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in which Australian troops would participate. The U.S. response has been, by contrast, relatively muted and low-level.