East_Timor

‘Australia’s Foreign Policy since WWII has largely been shaped by fears and threats, both real and perceived, policies and actions’. Australia’s foreign policy was the justification for inaction in the East Timor war, which resulted in several thousand deaths. Some societies have different views on whether or not Australia sat back and watched the Timor Leste war because of fear or policy. This essay will be examining, exploring and explaining if this statement is true or false in regards to the war in Timor Leste. The key arguments that will be discussed are, the Foreign Policy that was used in the circumstances, the Fears and Threats that Australia had during the Timor Leste war, and Australian’s involvement in the East Timor war. To support these argument further, this essay will use the following sources; A, N, S, T, U, W, X and Y. Foreign Policy is the diplomatic policy of a nation in its interactions with other nations. For example in World War I, Australia and New Zealand established the ANZAC Treaty, this stated that whenever Australia or New Zealand went to war, the other country must support them. From 1972-1975 Gough Whitlam was Prime Minster of Australia, he changed the focus of foreign policy so that Australia could become more involved with Asia and establish a friendly cooperative relationship with nations in the region, in particular Indonesia. This is shown in sources W and X, where Australia provided foreign aid to regional countries, giving the most support to the counties that Australia feared the most, then stating ‘Good Neighbours Make Good Friends’. So when Indonesia asked Australia’s opinion on whether they could extend their country into East Timor Australia gave a weak diplomatic answer of qualified support. As said by Prime Minister Paul Keating 1994, in source N, Indonesia was a vital country to our economic future and needed a positive relationship for continued cooperation. Australian’s population is around 21 million, Indonesia population is 227 million! Two-thirds of Indonesia is in the military due to the poverty in the country. FEAR. This same large population also drives an economic dependence from Australia. If Australia loses that relationship then the economic and safety of our country is threaten. THREAT. As said in source U, Australia is torn between excepting the way Indonesia is or to speak up and be like the other 50,000 Indonesian people killed by Indonesia for saying that what is happing in East Timor is wrong. Anthony Burke (source S) is one of many in Australia that believes that the ‘Timorese were to be sacrificed so that Australia could remain secure’. In other words ‘Australia bled East Timor to remain safe’. Even the Australian Government agreed to keep the five journals killed in Balibo a secret, in fear that it may upset a vital relationship. Each generation has been able to build a more tolerant and inclusive future for the generations to come, but if we become blind with fear then, as said in source A, all that building could crumble, and then the world will end up back were we began, with the ‘white way’. In the last ten years Australian government has finally woken up to the cruelty and unjust punishments that were happening in East Timor, and allowed (source T) 2,000 Australians committing to a multi-national peacekeeping operation, sponsored by the United Nations. East Timor is finally granted independence by a vote by the Indonesian President Habibie after President Suharto (lead Indonesia in to the massacres) retired. 99% of the population voted, and 78.5% voted for independence, even though they knew they might be killed in the process of voting. After the vote Australia was the largest peacekeeping country in East Timor, even though some Pro-Indonesians burn Australian flags in protest at their changing Foreign Policy. Source Y shows that Australia gave $930 million to the Official Development Assistance. Australia is also planning in the following years to give $103 million to ensure that East Timor can get back on track. In conclusion the essay statement i.e. ‘Australia’s Foreign Policy since WWII has largely been shaped by fears and threats, both real and perceived, policies and actions’ was supported by the essay to correct, due to the Foreign Policy that was used in the circumstances, the Fears and Threats that Australia had during the Timor Leste war, and Australian’s involvement in the East Timor war. Australia may have gambled a little too much at the beginning of the war, but it always helps to keep the poker face in play.