Saturday, October 06, 2007
A Dirty Little War by John Martinkus
This book records the situation in East Timor from 1997 to 2000. What struck me most was that the entire situation happened not too long ago, and that it had happened so close to Singapore and I never ever knew about it.
Sure, I always knew there was something up at East Timor, but I never knew it was like that. John Martinkus gave a very detailed and personalized account of his experience in East Timor during that time period. He wrote extensively about the time just before and just after East Timorese voted for their independence.
I think this excerpt sums up aptly what a large portion of the book was about.
"East Timor is already a winner,' said Leandro grandly, barely able to contain himself. 'They have decided for themselves. Today is the end. Today the East Timorese people stand equal with the other countries of the world.'
For the people who had fought so hard for independence, who had believed in the UN to provide them security from the military when they finally achieved independence, when the UN just didn't have the capacity to prevent the murders and terrorizing attacks on the people, the people just lost their faith in them.
It raises the question of whether the UN should be armed. Something that I believed had long been debated about.
The actual number of casualties will probably never be known. It is not just in the months or years after the independence but also what happened in 1975 which was unfortunately not well documented. But reading the atrocities committed is horrific enough. It's easy to hate the people who've caused such sadness and be angry at those who had just watched at the side. But instead, Xanana Gusmão speaks about forgiveness and he urges his people to forgive those who've commited crimes against them.
Its not easy to just say forgive like that. But I think what matters is that we try and that we look forward into the future instead of 'what could have beens'.
If I have the time I'll read it again and spend more time on the details instead of glossing over them. But thank you to John Martinkus for his wonderful writing that has enabled me and I believe much more of the world know about what happened in East Timor.
-----------------------------------------------------------
joo spoke
@ |12:20 PM|
A Dirty Little War by John Martinkus
This book records the situation in East Timor from 1997 to 2000. What struck me most was that the entire situation happened not too long ago, and that it had happened so close to Singapore and I never ever knew about it.
Sure, I always knew there was something up at East Timor, but I never knew it was like that. John Martinkus gave a very detailed and personalized account of his experience in East Timor during that time period. He wrote extensively about the time just before and just after East Timorese voted for their independence.
I think this excerpt sums up aptly what a large portion of the book was about.
"East Timor is already a winner,' said Leandro grandly, barely able to contain himself. 'They have decided for themselves. Today is the end. Today the East Timorese people stand equal with the other countries of the world.'
Alves was hurrying Leandro along and turned to me. 'What are you doing, anyway? We are going to the mountains, and we are advising all our people to go to Dare,' he said.
I hadn't even thought about leaving. I asked him how he felt about the result.
'Of course, it is a victory for us,' he said, still loading the car, 'but we have to get through the day alive.'"
Soon after East Timorese voted for independence, the Indonesian military moved in and began ransacking and creating chaos in the country. However, the official statement released by the UN, the Indonesian government and broadcasted to the rest of the world insisted that it was East Timorese militia and not the Indonesian military that was doing the damage. Through various accounts, John Martinkus displayed his exasperation and disbelief that the official accounts were so much in contradiction to what he and other foreign jounalists in East Timor were witnessing.For the people who had fought so hard for independence, who had believed in the UN to provide them security from the military when they finally achieved independence, when the UN just didn't have the capacity to prevent the murders and terrorizing attacks on the people, the people just lost their faith in them.
It raises the question of whether the UN should be armed. Something that I believed had long been debated about.
The actual number of casualties will probably never be known. It is not just in the months or years after the independence but also what happened in 1975 which was unfortunately not well documented. But reading the atrocities committed is horrific enough. It's easy to hate the people who've caused such sadness and be angry at those who had just watched at the side. But instead, Xanana Gusmão speaks about forgiveness and he urges his people to forgive those who've commited crimes against them.
Its not easy to just say forgive like that. But I think what matters is that we try and that we look forward into the future instead of 'what could have beens'.
If I have the time I'll read it again and spend more time on the details instead of glossing over them. But thank you to John Martinkus for his wonderful writing that has enabled me and I believe much more of the world know about what happened in East Timor.
Labels: books
joo spoke
@ |12:20 PM|