Revisiting East Timor deaths
Many will view the movie Balibo as a long-overdue addition to Australia's cinematic canon, and one that could well make a significant global impact given the starring role of one of the country's most bankable actors, Anthony LaPaglia.
With gripping drama, it tells the surprisingly little-known story of the Australia-based journalists --two Aussies, two Brits and a Kiwi - who lost their lives ahead of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975. Gary Cunningham, Greg Shackleton, Malcolm Rennie, Brian Peters and Tony Stewart. Collectively, they are known as "Balibo Five," after the border town where they were killed on 16 October 1975. Anthony LaPaglia plays the Darwin-based journalist, Roger East, who was persuaded by a then little-known rebel leader, Jose Ramos-Horta, who is now East Timor's president, to investigate the deaths.
The official Indonesian explanation is that the journalists were killed in crossfire between the Indonesian army and Fretilin rebels - a version of events that has long been accepted by successive Australian and British governments.
The film Balibo presents a very different narrative. It maintains that the journalists were executed by Indonesian troops on the orders of the their commanders, to prevent them reporting on the pre-invasion incursions.
It is based on a book, by the journalist, Jill Jolliffe, and is true to the findings of a coronial inquest in Sydney 2007, which ruled that the journalists were executed as they tried to surrender to Indonesian forces. "The journalists were not incidental casualties in the fighting, they were captured, then deliberately killed despite protesting their status," wrote coroner, Louise Pinch in her report. The inquest recommended war crimes charges be brought.
I've seen a preview of the movie, and found it incredibly stirring. I suspect it will leave many viewers with a very powerful sense of injustice.
One of my few reservations came right at the end, just before the credits started to role. There were the obligatory "what has happened since" chunks of text after the final scene had played out. But strangely, they did not make any reference to the Indonesian government's official explanation, the Australian government's acceptance of it, or the coroner's findings.
Nor did it mention that despite being handed down more than 18 months ago, the Australian government has not yet given its own response to the coronial inquest. Instead, the attorney general referred the case to the Australian Federal Police, which has remained silent on the issue. The director Robert Connolly says the "cover-up" of the Indonesian, Australian and British governments would make an ideal sequel.
It is widely thought that the government of Gough Whitlam tacitly agreed to Indonesia's invasion of East Timor because it viewed the Fretilin rebels as communists, and did not want another "Cuba" so close to its shores. Given the oil and gas deposits in the Timor Sea, it preferred to negotiate with Jakarta rather than Dili.
Now, the Australian government shows little or no enthusiasm for revisiting those events, because it does not want to sour diplomatic relations with the Indonesian government, according to the families. Nor does the British government. It is waiting to see what the Australian government does next, and plans no independent action of its own - this despite the fact that two Britons were amongst the dead, and their families have been prominent in the ongoing campaign for justice. It was the Bristolian, Maureen Tolfree, the sister of Brian Peters, who managed to get the case brought before the coroner in Sydney.
Anthony LaPaglia has said he hopes this movie with accelerate the campaign for justice. "I understand why the families have fought for 35 years," he told us last week. "And I'm on board now." But will it make a difference?
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Keep this up Nick and in a decade or 2 you might catch up with the fact that there is a global clergy abuse crisis - your onboard but will you make a difference?
http://www.september12009.com/
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Without trying to play down the injustice done to the Balibo Five, the only reason we have heard about them is their nationality. No one ever hears the names of the East-Timorese that died in the invasion.
In some ways the deaths of the Balibo Five may therefore be a blessing in disguise. Through them the incident is not forgotten in the world outside of East-Timor, and the Australian Government may still need to come clean on its role in 1975.
However, this incident makes you wonder how much silent support from western governments for dirty wars and dodgy invasions is staying under the radar because there are no western casualties.
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re: Freakontheguitar
Lets do that after we get our government to come clean on this
The Prime Minister of Australia on Islamic teachings on wife beating and rape.
"Under no circumstances is sexual violence permissible or acceptable in Australia - under no circumstances."
"Australia will not tolerate these sort of remarks. They don't belong in modern Australia, and he should stand up, repudiate them and apologise."
The Prime Minister of Australia on Catholocism and children sexually abused and raped by Catholic clergy.
"This is a matter for the church and I respect the internal judgements of the church. I don’t stand outside the church and provide them with public lectures in terms of how they should behave..."
Australia does not tolerate these sort of remarks. They don't belong in modern Australia, and the Prime Minister should stand up, repudiate them and apologise.
There is no excuse for sexual abuse according to our law and government.
We are told we are all equal before the law.
The exceptions are found when you have been sexually abused by Catholic clergy.
"This is a matter for the church and I respect the internal judgements of the church. I don’t stand outside the church and provide them with public lectures in terms of how they should behave..."
Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia, 17 July 2008.
http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Interview/2008/interview_0363.cfm
read more ... http://www.mybrokensociety.com/questions101
This is perhaps the most horrific act of abandonment perpetrated against the children of a specific religion by an Australian head of State and is recorded in our history for perpetuity as being made by Kevin Rudd on 17 July 2008, when he spoke in regards those affected by the sexual abuses carried out by Catholic clergy.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment has been referred to the moderators. Explain.
Methinks there is not enough moderation in this blog as at least 2 posts on here seem to be totally off topic.
Nick, good post, however, I disagree that this is a little known event - certainly not here in Australia anyway, although I guess it never received much coverage in the UK.
The continued lack of response by the Australian (and it seems British) governments to me demonstrates the apparent lack of concern that continues to be shown about this shameful and tragic event. I look forward to seeing the movie, but I doubt it will move any government to actually do anything.
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Thanks for this article, it is as relevant now to the respective Australian and British Governments as it was in 1975. Congratulations to the film makers who have taken on a subject that would normally be shunned by commercial cinema, on no account should political expediency be ignored - Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan ......
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Nick I think firstly we should be aware that there has been a major change in leadership in Indonesia since this event, as has there been since the East Timor massacre before their independence.
As with all political systems there are the left and right of politics. Currently we have an excellent leader running Indonesia...please don't ask me to spell his name...as does East Timor.
Australia too, has changed governments since the Balibo incident. The Hawke Labor Government of the time, though good for Australia I believe, were of the belief that Australian Governments ran Australia, not other nations....and it might be interesting to note this government was labeled a Socialist/Communist leaning government by the Liberal Nation Opposition of the time....So why didn't they support the so called Communists of East Timor?
Since then we had John Howard's government, who backed East Timor's independence...primarily because they wanted access to the oil and gas deposits, which they controlled for a few years before returning same to East Timor....and the current Labor Government who tend to be right of the ideals of Hawke.
Australia has always had a healthy respect for our South East neighbours, knowing that when we have a problem with them, as happened with Sukhano and Suhato...please excuse my spelling...we had to deal with them alone....Remember it was Winston Churchill who abandoned us and New Zealand in WWII...Bush's America also threatened to do the same if we disagree with his American policty ...
So any reporting of events concerning Australia and clashes with these neighbours, should be seen in the light of how our, so called protectors, stand on the subject, not just how Australia deals with it.
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Firstly, it was the Whitlam Labor government, Petesyc, that was in power when the Balibo Five were killed in October 1975, to be ousted a few weeks later by Sir John Kerr (Malcolm Fraser).
Second, its Suharto/Soeharto and Sukarno/Soekarno.
Third, tragic and outrageous though the killings were, there is no way Indonesia will ever bring to justice those who pulled the trigger, or ordered it, this current SBY government, or any other. To do so would be prompt a national investigation and cleansing per what Indonesia did in East Timor at the time, and in the 24 years that followed. Indonesia has never reconciled the so-called Year of Living Dangerously, the as-many-as 1 million actual/suspected/real/imagined communists/enemies of Suharto that he had killed on taking power in the mid-60s. To Indonesians, this is a far more compelling event, than the killing of five foreign journalists in a place few know anything of, and those that do have schadenfreude about any. And then we start discussing the influence and legacy of the military in Indonesian society. When Indonesia announces a truth and reconcilation commission for the PKI massacres, that's when there will be justice for the Balibo Five, but long after. Indonesia doesnt really care about Australia much to do anything else. Its the joob of Australia's ambassadors in Jakarta to apologise for the excesses of their hosts.
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Petesyc you keep repeating the mantra of the Howard government wanting the oil and gas from Timor as the reason for Australia supporting the East Timorese independence. This really is Labor trash as the agreements on the sunrise fields give East Timor a lifeline of income. Add to this the Australian Governments aid contributions and this is a real kickstart to the East Timor economy that has grown from the abject poverty imposed by the sucessive Indonesian regimes. Almost all Aussies feel embittered by the actions of the Whitlam Government in abandoning the Timorese. The Howard Governemtn saught to redress this and ensure that the funds would flow properly to East timor and not be sucked away by the agents of corruption endemic to developing economies.
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Freakontheguitar, perhaps you are referring to Darfur (no wait, the West is complaining, it's the locals who want to sweep it under the carpet) or Burma (oops, again, a lot of turning a blind eye in the neighbourhood)? Or is it Somalia or Tibet or the Uyghars you have in mind? The West really can't win a trick sometimes: intervene, and it gets told to mind its post-colonial business; ignore, and it gets accused of neglecting its post-colonial responsibilities or worse, active collusion.
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It took an Australian government over a century to formerly apologise for the atrocities committed against the indigenous peoples of this nation;we shouldn't hold our breath for clarification on an event that in historical terms, is a blink away from now. Whilst closure (and continued indignation)for the families of the murdered journalists is essential, my concerns are for the Timorese and their fragile, island home that seems to be going nowhere fast, despite international aid and good intentions.
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Wake up Nick, this is a new world. Governments are only concerned about economic trading partners, not silly things like human rights and murders by governmental forces or agencies. Hop on board mate, this is the world of uncontrolled captialism, profits to be had and people to be abused. Everyone will adjust over time, corrupt governments, corrupt banks, polluting industries, the ruling class nostalgia for the turn of the century (1900)has been reborn. A couple of reporters murdered... next thing you know you will be dredging up those Burmese generals killing a bunch of monks or Chinese parents being jailed for asking why their children died in Sichuan in poorly built schools. The party is about to re-start, so the governments all say, and you are trying to bring everyone down.
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I've not seen the film myself yet, but I'm surprised to hear from Nick that it makes no references to the Coroners enquiry, and government positions. I can only concur with Nick's reservations there, it's inexplicable to me. To be honest, it's rather annoying and diminishes the film's objectivity in my mind.
I think the reticence of governments of all countries to move on this, is taking a lead from East Timor's own position on the whole sorry invasion, occupation and the equally horrendous UN independence vote. Remember, INdonesia's military established, funded and trained a "militia" that systematically destroyed infrastructure, housing, and effectively marched much of the population out at gunpoint.
Anyway, their attitude is summed up by their reactions to joint Indonesia - East Timor Truth & Reconciliation commission that concluded in 2008.
On balance I admire that reaction. Basically saying, put it behind us and get on with life. Sure, not comfortable with the avoidance of justice - who could be?. But like it or not, it's a fact. While the report is at pains to say there were crimes on both sides, there is no reasonable doubt at all that Indonesia holds the vast majority of crimes, and the overwhelming majority of illegal killings and other crimes, on it's side. Indonesia's reputation has taken, and continues to take, a very sever battering for the courses it's government and army of the day chose.
But if you've heard that remarkable man, Jose Ramos-Horta (current East Timor president and like most East Timorese, has his own terrible experiences of the occupation period), speak on this issue, and justify their stance, it's hard not to agree.
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No need to hark back to the past - there's plenty going on in Irian Jaya right now if Australia, the USA or any human rights activists were inclined to stand up to Indonesia
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I think it was President Ford and Kissinger who gave the green light to the invasion of East Timor, Nick. Whitlam was more or less presented with a preordained decision
Indonesia has long been a 'special case' in Australian foreign affairs, more so now I think under SBY as its democracy strengthens
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I would hardly say it's a "little known story" - the murdered journalists have had a disproportionate share of publicity compared the 18,000 East Timorese murdered during the Indonesian occupation (not to mention the many other deaths through starvation etc). Those responsible for the murders - the TNI - are still doing the same in West Papua, Aceh - and yet we are happy to treat them as allies. Selamat Datang!
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I look forward to seeing the movie, having heard so much about the incident over the years.
Does anyone remember a TV Drama about it (perhaps with James Reine [is that how he spelt it])?
What about songs, there have been a few (perhaps by James Reine as well!)? The Whitlams had a good one about East Timor being only 400kms from Darwin but I'm sure there were some good ones about this incident particularly?
Can anyone help my failing memory?
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I agree with previous comments that no international focus is on the local Timorese who have lost their lives right up until the 1990s. Also, because Mr Bryant hadn't heard of these gentlemen before doesn't make it a little known incident. East Timor has been prominent to Australians for decades and these two journalists and their tale are far from unknown.
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An interesting critique of the film by Gerald Henderson, a bloke who, among other things, runs a think-tank on foreign policy and has a regular column in the Aust press. He makes some telling points, that this film is not a documentary as much as a drama, and it misses and misleads in a few areas and facts.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/hindsight-has-not-cleared-the-vision-of-an-atrocity-20090817-enl3.html?page=-1
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To Very Long David: Yes you are correct. Why I put Hawke instead of Whitlam, I'll never know.
To ilukabeack: Not I was referring to the delay Howard caused AFTER East Timor's independence, where they deliberately claimed the oil and gas supplies off East Timor were in Australian waters, which was totally untrue. Here is Oxfam's report on the matter at the time. I'm sure if you Googled or Yahooed the subject you would also get newspaper reports from that time to confirm what I am saying:
[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]
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