Conclusion

While NZ remains silent, world-wide reaction against the Indonesian regime continues to increase. The regime's incredible corruption, the continuing detention of up to 100,000 political prisoners without trial and the atrocities in East Timor are receiving wide publicity; President Suharto is particularly sensitive to 'bad press' at the moment as the campaign has begun for 'elections' due in early May. Foreign journalists have been banned from visiting villages to cover the campaign. Also moves are afoot in America and Holland to cut aid to Indonesia because of gross violation of human rights there.

Support for the struggle of the Fast Timorese for independence is growing among the people of NZ, but more action and awareness is needed. Already members of the recent International Conference for Peace Action have sent a petition to Mr Muldoon urging him to ask Indonesia to "accept the need for an alternative solution for East Timor in keeping with UN resolutions." Let us not stop there. It's time to pressure the government into a more principled stand on East Timor.