The New Zealand Connection'

Why is the NZ Government silent on events in East Timor? Various reasons come to mind. In view of Mr Muldoon's recent statement, it is not unreasonable to suppose that he accepts the Whitlam logic that an independent Timor would be an unviable state and a potential threat to the area. He possibly approves of the Indonesian invasion as nipping a possible 'communist threat' in the bud. However the 'unviability' argument holds no water when one looks at other small states in the Pacific, such as Fiji and Niue.

Then there is also the possibility that even though NZ does not support the Indo nesian 'integration' of East Timor, it does not want to say so publicly for fear of incurring the wrath of Indonesia. NZ has a major aid investment in Indonesia. In the 1974-75 financial year, NZ's bilateral aid to Indonesia amounted to over $2.8 million, the largest amount given to any Asian country.