What was the situation in East Timor prior to the overthrow of the Caetano regime on 25 April 1974?
Portuguese colonialism in East Timor was not expressed so much in direct economic exploitation of the masses - although of course there was exploitation of the resources, sandalwood in particular - as in what you could call cultural colonialism, a orainwasting ot ine people Even this was only really felt in the urban centres, particularty in tne capital Dili. The main purpose was to produce a tiny elite - what we call assimilados - which could serve the colonial manine in oppressing the great majority of the people For instance, in school and college everything we nad to learn was doout Portugal. Timorese culture and language were torbidden in the scoois - we were physically punished if we tried to speak Tetum (the local language).
How did Fretilin emerge in this situation?
Well, people like myself and my other comrades in me centra Commuted were originally part of this elite. But as in the Atrican colonies, the contra dictions of our situation became increasingly clear to some ot us. vve nad two options: to forget these contradictions and go ahead playing around with colonialism; or to return to the people and tind our real identity with the masses. We chose the latter.
immediately atter tne coup we created a social-democratic party - for tactical reasons, a bit naively. Contra dictions rapidly emerged inside this party we could never really pretend that we would be able to liberate the people with a social-democratic programme. so, tacing up to the risks of international aggression, we launched cretilin in september 1914 But we could not talk on benalt oi the people while we were still living comfortably in Dili, keeping our jobs and so on. So we moved to the countryside, organising revolutionary brigades, building up schools to teach the people • to redo ano write mmer own tanguage setting up nearn centres, production cooperatives, and so on.
On 7 December, the Indonesians invaded the country. What has happened since then?
Well, the war had been going on in fact since September. At that time there were already clasnes arong the border petween ine nationalist Torces or cast humor and me noonesian armee Torces But it was only after our declaration of independence on 28 November that Indonesia in a state of desperation launcnee a run scare invasion against will ane baucau Arter many days or very nard struggle in which we eliminated several thousand Inconesian trooos. we nac to retreat from Dili and Baucau. But we had long prepared for this tactic - to retreat to une mountains ramer man concentrdte our torces in me towns ane villages arrom ine mountains we are orcal ising a hit-and-run war against the Indonesian positions. Our guerrilla units make raids almost every night. We have a special group, the Black Munters, who operate in twos and threees and are very good at shooting. Psychologically this kind of war is very damaging for ine inconesians. war of attrition in the areas held by the inconesians - ano taev control ne more than 20 per cent of the territory, mainly on the north coast thanks to a heavy naval bombardment.
Has your struggle had any impact inside Indonesia?
Well, divisions already seem to be opening up inside the regime in Jakarta. For instance, a former minister of information. B.M. Diah, has written a series of articles in the daily newspaper Merdeka strongly attacking the Indonesian Foreign Minister over ine tanure or the invasion. He must have had the backing of a section of the army to be able to say this.
battalions in East and Central Java have refused to send their troops to East Timor. And the West Timorese soldiers nave been oisarmed since septemper. They have all been replaced by Javanese troops.
you talked of the possibility of extending your struggle to West Well, of course, we are always ready for a peaceul, necotiatea solution. but we are determined never to surrender our esian generals. And if we reach a point where we find it is necessary to cross the border into West Timor, then we moving there, because we have to have a direct fight.
other forces struggling against the Indonesian regime?
Well, the movements in West Irian and the South Moluccas will undoubtedly make use of the Indonesians' preoccupation with East Timor to intensify their own struggles in 1976. We have no immeciate bians to coorainate une struggle against the generals in Jakarta, but the very tact or our struggles means We're waging a that we are helping each other because the Indonesians have to divert their forces to several fronts.
of East Timor marks the beginning of the collapse of the regime in Jakarta.
The British Campaign for Independent East Timor exists to organise solidarity in this country with the struggle of Fretilin. Details of its activities, publications, etc. can be obtained from 40 Concanon Road, London S.W.2. (01-214 9308).
We have also had reports that some At the public meeting last night Inal of the Fl.
* independence and freedom to the Indon- RALLY We have a lot of support among the West Timorese. Of course, we would need to do some kind or pollica work betore the support or tne masses betore launching Do you plan to make links with Also:
Red Star Folk Gaitas Gallegas We are confident that the invasion the existing order. be socialist.
30.0U NALGO member, Twickenham Th.Ol NALGO branch secretary, Cardiff 5.00 That makes a total this week of £975.25, and a grand total (by 13 February) of £7,521. That sounds good, but with only three weeks to go we have to collect another £7,500 - in other words, £2,500 a week. So we appeal to all our readers not to let up - why not organise a special collec tion in your workplace or college to give us an extra boost.
Just to remind you what we need the money for: * A tour of a leading comrade from the LCI (Portuguese sympathising organisa•rion or the rourn internationai, to re port to all the comrades of the IMG on the results of the recent LCI Congress and to address a series of public meetings.
Stabilising our theoretical journal International and transforming the magazine into the English language jour closer.
The immediate securing of a lease for our Scottish centre and the purchase of the necessary office material.
"ine production or a sries or pampr eStaTT.
ERNEST MANDEL Speaking on Fighting for Workers Power in Portugal -the REPUBLICA film Red ser song Mom Color an elembere - Playing traditional pipe music from Spain NALGO member, Manchester 1.00 10.00 lets: Pierre Frank on the history of the Fl; the debate in the Fl on Portugal; on the struggle in Spain; and one on unem ployment and the cuts.
Taking on a further trade union orgar iser to meet the growing challenge to step up our work. as ine introduction ou a new tougher pay limit and the prospect of two million unemployed grow even Taking the first steps towards a 16 Date paper, oy moving to ustined LyDE setting and strengthening the editorial * nAncar kings tube
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