Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 21. August 28 1978
The Political Motive
The Political Motive
A victory for the forces of independence and socialism in East Timor would be acutely embarrassing to the Sukarno regime and would pose a potential threat to his own power and US involvement in the area. Indonesia has one of the most repressive governments in the world. It is plagued with mismanagement, poverty and corruption, and maintains tenuous control over its outlying islands. Success in East Timor might well lead to success elsewhere. And that would be bad news indeed for US big business.