A Dirty Little War
By John Martinkus
Forward by Xanana Gusmao
Random House
428 pages, $24.95
Just over two years since the heroic East Timorese people voted for independence and so many questions remain unanswered and so many problems unresolved. Like what state will the United Nations leave the fledgling nation of East Timor in? Or how will the East Timorese constituent assembly deal with social problems like mass unemployment, rural poverty and chronic underdevelopment? And how will they deal with the "guidance" of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank?
Where is the justice for the East Timorese who suffered at the hands of the Indonesian military and the pro-Jakarta militia gangs? Why has not one Indonesian general or high ranking officer who masterminded the destruction of East Timor in 1999 been brought to account?
Though these issues are not directly the subject of A Dirty Little War, this book provides an important backdrop to where East Timor is headed and how it will be treated by its neighbours in the region — especially Australia — as well as international financial institutions and foreign businesses keen to exploit whatever meagre crumbs they can.
This book is an unique eyewitness account by Australian freelance journalist John Martinkus of the tumultuous events that took place in East Timor before and after the 1999 referendum on independence.
Martinkus's experience and detailed knowledge of the East Timorese people's struggle enables him to clearly present the key developments that took place during this period. He deals especially with how the pro-integration block came into existence and how the Indonesian military organised this group and their militia gangs.
Martinkus conveys the excitement and fervour of the student and youth resistance movement that openly defied the Indonesian military after the fall of Suharto, and describes the horrible acts of violence these brave activists endured as they campaigned for a vote for freedom.
A Dirty Little War is one of those books that should be compulsory reading for all high school or university students studying Australian history and foreign policy. It cuts through the web of lies and half-truths that have been (and remain) a hallmark of Australian government relations towards East Timor.
A Dirty Little War is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand how the East Timorese people overcame huge odds to win their liberation.
From Green Left Weekly, November 28, 2001.
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