The slaughter of hundreds of East Timorese in the past fortnight has shown to all the world the nature of the Indonesian regime. It is a brutal, fascist occupying force which has murdered 200,000 East Timorese since 1975 and subjected the island nation to military dictatorship. Those carrying out the present massacres in East Timor have been called militias by the media. They are no such thing.
Militias are armed civilians who defend against an invading force.
Indonesia does not act alone, it is armed, aided and financed by Washington. Indonesia receives support and protection from not only the US but also Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Throughout the occupation of East Timor New Zealand's governments have continued giving military aid to Indonesia and conducted joint military exercises. The National Government also has close diplomatic ties with that country. It is no wonder, for it is not a liberating, progressive organisation, it is in practice a mouthpiece for Washington.