{"id":427,"date":"2021-05-31T08:59:30","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T08:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/?p=427"},"modified":"2024-04-02T14:26:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T14:26:55","slug":"an-act-of-no-choice-the-integration-of-timor-leste-1976","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/?p=427","title":{"rendered":"An act of no choice: the &#8220;integration&#8221; of Timor-Leste, 1976"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>E-dossier #6. <u>An act of no choice \u2013 Sporting Club, Dili, 31 May 1976<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On 31 May 1976, the Sporting Club in Dili hosted a controversial ceremony in which a handful of Timorese legislators selected by the Indonesian-imposed \u201cProvisional Government of East Timor\u201d petitioned unanimously for annexation by Indonesia. On 31 July, Indonesian president Suharto accepted the petition and declared Timor-Leste to be Indonesia\u2019s 27<sup>th<\/sup> province, under the name \u201cTimor Timur\u201d (East Timor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>United Nations and Commonwealth documents from this time period illustrate the illegality of the assembly calling for annexation, its pre-determined outcome, and the different stances taken by the UN and some Western powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>We can conclude<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The assembly was designed to make a major international problem, the invasion of Timor-Leste, disappear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was modelled on the illegimate \u201cAct of Free Choice\u201d held in West Papua in 1969, less than seven years earlier<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indonesian officials consistently refused to take part in peace talks during this period, preferring to work through the \u201cProvisional Government,\u201d and used the 31 May assembly as a&nbsp; justification for not participating in talks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Australian politicians set the path for other Western governments debating whether to attend<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The United Nations always viewed the assembly as illegitimate and never considered attending<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Assembly\u2019s outcome was decided in advance, and this was known at the time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The story can be told from a series of <strong>primary source documents produced in 1976<\/strong>. This briefing book relies primarily on United Nations archival documents, but also draws on documents from Australia, New Zealand and Canada. File number references are available on request. These documents should be read in conjunction with published histories of Timor-Leste\u2019s international history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1Cc8qQxiTXkUrjBE2XEXt2vOKnWih_Sb7?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All documents available in this folder.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-1.-1976-02-25-DRET-map-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-432\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-1.-1976-02-25-DRET-map-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-1.-1976-02-25-DRET-map-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-1.-1976-02-25-DRET-map-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-1.-1976-02-25-DRET-map-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-1.-1976-02-25-DRET-map-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Document 1<\/strong> is a map of areas of control in Timor-Leste at the end of February 1976, almost three months after the invasion by Indonesian \u201cvolunteers.\u201d Prepared at the UN, it showed that Indonesia controlled three of the four largest population centres including Dili and Baucau, but that Fretilin\u2019s Democratic Republic of East Timor (DRET) controlled the majority of the territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1jtq9wFq--wwo8Pwc9Fuca8zxxbeZriYl\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\">[Doc 1. 1976-02-25]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All parties paid lip service to the principle that the war in Timor-Leste should be ended and the people be granted their right to self-determination. Eventually, the 31 May assembly was Indonesia\u2019s answer to how to allow the expression of self-determination. Even before that assembly was proposed, the DRET pointed out in <strong>Document 2<\/strong>: \u201cTo speak of \u2018an act of self-determination\u2019 before the Indonesians withdraw is blatant hypocrisy\u201d which would violate international law and \u201cconnive in the legitimation of genocide.\u201d In an appeal to the UN Security Council, it called the resistance and reconstruction work of \u201ca whole nation\u201d that was then going on \u201cthe most genuine and unquestionably courageous act of self-determination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-2.-1976-03-04-DRET-to-UNSC_Page_1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-433\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-2.-1976-03-04-DRET-to-UNSC_Page_1-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-2.-1976-03-04-DRET-to-UNSC_Page_1-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-2.-1976-03-04-DRET-to-UNSC_Page_1.jpg 859w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1kScSXHvtec1iwawu3Qimf1jzw3VF8lWf\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 2. 1976-03-04]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Early in 1976, the UN Secretary-General, Kurt Waldheim, consulted representatives of Indonesia, Portugal and the DRET. The record of conversations with each of them make up <strong>Document 3<\/strong>. Portugal ambassador J.M. Galvao Teles stressed that \u201ceverything should be done to ensure self-determination\u201d and sought negotiations. Indonesian diplomats made it clear that they were not willing to negotiate. Ambassador Anwar Sani told Waldheim Indonesia \u201ccould not visualize\u201d full negotiations and \u201cwas not prepared to participate.\u201d He urged instead that the DRET talk with the Indonesian-backed \u201cProvisional Government\u201d (PGET) in Dili. DRET foreign minister Jose Ramos Horta said his government would negotiate with Indonesia but not the PGET, which was \u201conly an Indonesian puppet.\u201d He reported an Indonesian plan to hold a \u201cpopular assembly\u201d of some 500 people to perform an act of self-determination, the first time this appears in the UN Secretariat, and said Fretilin would reject it and \u201ccontinue to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-3.-1976-03-10-SG-mtgs-RI-PT-JRH_Page_1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-434\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-3.-1976-03-10-SG-mtgs-RI-PT-JRH_Page_1-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-3.-1976-03-10-SG-mtgs-RI-PT-JRH_Page_1-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-3.-1976-03-10-SG-mtgs-RI-PT-JRH_Page_1.jpg 859w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1fILwu41by1qegx4QaykWCy7ygW43Ea4X\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 3. 1976-03-10]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In April, the PGET legislated the popular consultation through an executive act (<strong>Document 4<\/strong>), mandating self-determination through \u201cconsensus and consent,\u201d a reference to the Javanese concept of musyawarah (consensus through deliberation). The act claimed that this method was \u201cin accordance with the traditions and identity of the people of East Timor,\u201d ignoring the fact of full elections held before the invasion. The structure of consultation was clearly modelled on the 1969 \u201cact of free choice\u201d in West Papua, with a \u201cDeliberative Council\u201d made up of two representatives from each of the 13 districts (conselho). The PGET\u2019s parliament would be added to these members to create a larger voting body, that would express its opinion on self-determination on behalf of the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1MBnNRl1XS6NcjG3lF_JIcJh4RvM_r88l\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 4. 1976-04-02]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhole procedure is reminiscent of that arranged for act of free choice in W Irian [West Papua,\u201d noted the Canadian embassy in Jakarta, briefed on the plans for an assembly in Dili (<strong>Document 5<\/strong>). Given this, Western governments would need to carefully consider whether it was proper to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1MBnNRl1XS6NcjG3lF_JIcJh4RvM_r88l\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 5. 1976-05-05]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pressed by Portugal, UN special envoy Vittorio Winspeare Guiccardi said \u201cneither the United Nations nor the Secretary-General could subscribe to unilateral action on the part of Indonesia,\u201d according to <strong>Document 6<\/strong>, the record of his meeting with Ambassador Galva Teles. The UN never retreated from this stance, but Winspeare was willing to entertain the idea of a beefed-up assembly to decide on self-determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1g-v3HdFbJtsM2xOn666_h4lLNpIKBG_x\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 6. 1976-05-07]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As preparations for the assembly continued, Indonesian foreign minister Adam Malik categorically denied that Indonesia would annex Timor-Leste before August. His words were conveyed by the Indonesian UN mission in <strong>Document 7<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1xDBmHBiAcyaRZawvTxviXBXNy6wMvD7t\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 7. 1976-05-11]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UN remained unwilling to lend its hand to any Act of Free Choice-style method. While references to Winspeare being willing to accept an assembly appear in Australian documents, the Special Committee of 24 dealing with decolonization issues (and thus with Timor-Leste) was adamant that \u201cany United Nations presence at this stage would only serve to rubber stamp the annexation process, and therefore should be avoided,\u201d in the words of <strong>Document 8<\/strong>, a memorandum from Under-Secretary for Political Affairs and Decolonization Tang Ming-chao to Secretary-General Waldheim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-8.-1976-05-14-UN-int-memo-Tang_Page_1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-437\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-8.-1976-05-14-UN-int-memo-Tang_Page_1-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-8.-1976-05-14-UN-int-memo-Tang_Page_1-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-8.-1976-05-14-UN-int-memo-Tang_Page_1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-8.-1976-05-14-UN-int-memo-Tang_Page_1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-8.-1976-05-14-UN-int-memo-Tang_Page_1-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/18ESrY3dxfNfxTFWM_x0VVwkqwOjoUkZ1\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 8. 1976-05-14]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the assembly scheduled for 31 May, PGET representatives Mario Carrascalao and Tito dos Santos Baptista tried to get a UN observer presence, arriving in New York to lobby for this on 24 May. The assembly was now to consist of 27 people \u2013 two from each district, with an extra representative for one district, plus five representatives from political parties and five traditional chiefs and religious authorities. They met the acting chairman of the C24, Tom Vraalsen of Norway (<strong>Document 9<\/strong>). Vraalsen stressed that the meeting was unofficial and the UN in no way recognized the PGET as a government, but agreed to inform the C24. In a meeting the next day, C24 chair Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania also provided no encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1FdeRaAgpzdnbQeLzzMPZIqjEeDiwY_WN\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 9. 1976-05-24]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The C24 formally announced its refusal to attend the 31 May assembly in a published statement dated 28 May, printed here as <strong>Document 10<\/strong>. Committee chair Salim noted that there were UN resolutions not yet respected and that the C24 had not been consulted on the assembly, so it could not attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-10.-1976-05-28-C24-statement_Page_1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-438\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-10.-1976-05-28-C24-statement_Page_1-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-10.-1976-05-28-C24-statement_Page_1-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-10.-1976-05-28-C24-statement_Page_1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-10.-1976-05-28-C24-statement_Page_1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-10.-1976-05-28-C24-statement_Page_1-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/153KddYkavu6oVS2IWjAia5BcePQYIjgJ\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 10. 1976-05-28]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under-Secretary Tang advised (successfully) that the Secretary-General not only stay away from Dili, but also avoid replying to the invitation. This, he said in <strong>Document 11<\/strong>, could block the PGET from its goal \u201cto obtain some kind of recognition form the United Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1b4blkDNdghPHlK4Vu7GqdT2LSGT2sWi4\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 11. 1976-05-28]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UN reluctance to attend the 31 May assembly informed others\u2019 reluctance. From a final invitation list of 21 countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, India, Iran, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, USA, USSR) and several arms of the UN, only six countries attended (India, Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and New Zealand).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From London, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office informed counterparts that the United States and Australia were trying to avoid invitations that they might have to refuse to attend. Britain and the EEC were keeping a low profile, but would probably decline even if Australia attended. This is reported in <strong>Document 12<\/strong>, a Canadian diplomatic dispatch (other soundings found ambivalence in both Western and Asian capitals about whether to attend if invited).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1JN24kI96NkrTl11VbLyHGnDBjz7mAUed\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 12. 1976-05-25]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a memorandum to Australian foreign minister Andrew Peacock, reproduced from the official Australian document collection as <strong>Document 13<\/strong>, his Department of External Affairs weighed whether to attend. Australia\u2019s decision, they thought, could sway the US, Japan, Canada and New Zealand. The DEA on balance recommended staying away, and Peacock agreed on the assumption that other Western powers would also do so, and wanted the decision delayed as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/112MRfML_aBW0jqFZhNzuHxYBhcmV8vpL\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 13. 1976-05-27]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peacock finally declined the invitation on 30 May (<strong>Document 14<\/strong>), pointing out that he had wished to avoid an earlier decision that might influence others to stay away, and had thus been helpful to Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1PA9oTENJ6gHSIo8BxIfX44RA40lg_MbV\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 14. 1976-05-30]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peacock made the decision, Australian officials informed their Canadian counterparts, even knowing that New Zealand and (reportedly) Japan had decided to be present \u2013 but it had been \u201con very fine balance up to the last minute\u201d \u2013 as the Canadian mission in Canberra reported in <strong>Document 15<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1RsTMXLxErYIPTuj52GLFFv90-7AZeR84\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 15. 1976-05-31]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The assembly duly met on 31 May and decided \u201cwith complete free will [and] without any form of coercion from outside\u201d to petition for annexation by Indonesia, as the PGET telegrammed to Waldheim the same day (<strong>Document 16<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1-2-B729tWdK9ws7uEhkwDH-4YGkWqgz2\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 16. 1976-05-31]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe were in Dili a little less than 2 hours,\u201d New Zealand diplomat Alison Stokes wrote in a report shared with New Zealand\u2019s allies (<strong>Document 17<\/strong>). While 28 delegates unanimously agreed to seek annexation, she reported, there was no indication of how they had been selected and no option other than annexation on the table. Lest the outcome had been in any doubt, Stokes received printed information on her inward flight to Dili, stating that the Timorese had chosen integration into Indonesia. English-language signs to the same effect were on display as she was whisked back to the airport immediately after the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"791\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-17.-1976-06-02-NZ-Stokes-report_Page_1-791x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-440\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-17.-1976-06-02-NZ-Stokes-report_Page_1-791x1024.jpg 791w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-17.-1976-06-02-NZ-Stokes-report_Page_1-232x300.jpg 232w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-17.-1976-06-02-NZ-Stokes-report_Page_1-768x994.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-17.-1976-06-02-NZ-Stokes-report_Page_1-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-17.-1976-06-02-NZ-Stokes-report_Page_1-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-17.-1976-06-02-NZ-Stokes-report_Page_1-scaled.jpg 1979w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1FIDwStWFeGII1BDLrvGaOsHmqEWhAmVd\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 17. 1976-06-02)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step in the integration process would see Indonesia\u2019s parliament send a five-hour mission to Dili to verify that the annexation petition was truly the will of the Timorese people. Indonesia again pressed the Secretary-General to attend this time (<strong>Document 18<\/strong>). Again, it was not successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/11t3y5G0T2e_AOCNUsbM2hgGrBGnyf4U6\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 18. 1976-06-10]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New Zealand foreign minister Brian Talboys made a similar effort soon afterwards, trying to have Winspeare accompany this mission or visit Timor-Leste in June (<strong>Document 19, <\/strong>courtesy Maire Leadbetter). Despite support for his effort delivered verbally at the UN by delegates from Australia, Britain and the USA, the UN Secretariat was unmoved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1EFamtF3zjKa0bA78mWqLSQCNMQ4y6Gu5\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 19. 1976-07-08]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PGET and Indonesian efforts to host a UN presence shine though in a document package presented by the Indonesian mission to the UN in June 1976 (<strong>Document 20<\/strong>). In it, the PGET argues that the wish to integrate into Indonesia had been \u201ckindling in the heart of each and every son of East Timor\u201d for many years and calls on the UN to \u201cto come to Dili and see for themselves how determined we are to be reunited with our [Indonesian] brothers.\u201d Welcoming \u201cthe firm determination of the people of East Timor to re-integrate [sic],\u201d Suharto also invoked kinship: \u201cI do not feel as though I am greeting strangers today. I feel I am meeting my own brothers again, who were separated for a long time.\u201d After a long recounting of Indonesia\u2019s nationalist history that barely mentioned Timor-Leste, Suharto made it very clear that there would be little delay in \u201ccompleting this process of integration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1aHHf4JRaj2qhy1be0sgFBhZwAJCWRmam\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 20. 1976-06-15]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Winspeare made his final report to the Secretary-General on his mission to see UN resolutions implemented \u2013 one that had not seen much success. In an eight-page letter to Waldheim (<strong>Document 21<\/strong>) he concentrated on the broad lines of his mission but also included the 31 May assembly in his discussion of self-determination. He reported that accepting any of the May or June invitations to visit Timor-Leste would not have been \u201cappropriate\u201d and that no UN Organs had been involved in any PGET \u201cself-determination\u201d steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-21.-1976-06-15-Winspeare-report_Page_1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-441\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-21.-1976-06-15-Winspeare-report_Page_1-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-21.-1976-06-15-Winspeare-report_Page_1-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-21.-1976-06-15-Winspeare-report_Page_1.jpg 859w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1c63oljSfUBFogL16obMVsecS2cgbMV3F\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 21. 1976-06-15]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the Indonesian government, the story was closed. Officials in Jakarta could not look past the planned August 17 integration of Timor-Leste into Indonesia, New Zealand\u2019s embassy reported in <strong>Document 22<\/strong>. When \u201cthat magic days comes, \u2026 all their troubles will be resolved by Timor\u2019s disappearance as a separate entity,\u201d the embassy reported them as feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"791\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-22.-1976-06-18-NZ-Jkt-to-DEA-791x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-442\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-22.-1976-06-18-NZ-Jkt-to-DEA-791x1024.jpg 791w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-22.-1976-06-18-NZ-Jkt-to-DEA-232x300.jpg 232w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-22.-1976-06-18-NZ-Jkt-to-DEA-768x994.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-22.-1976-06-18-NZ-Jkt-to-DEA-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-22.-1976-06-18-NZ-Jkt-to-DEA-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-22.-1976-06-18-NZ-Jkt-to-DEA-scaled.jpg 1979w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1fOiFYIYG460Ox5v5Lj6ePdmXpsmwWlmO\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 22. 1976-06-18]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For its part, Fretilin promised again to fight on, saying it still controlled 80% of the territory. A statement by Mari Alkatari for the DRET (<strong>Document 23<\/strong>) again said that Indonesia had imposed the 31 May assembly to deceive, \u201can experience it acquired in 1969 at the time of the annexation of West Irian.\u201d After the \u201cpuppet act of free choice,\u201d Indonesia was replicating the tactics of other colonizers. Alkatiri condemned the countries that had lent their presence on 31 May, but praised the UN for its \u201ccoherent position\u201d in support of true self-determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1kjPgCQpnbf-Rv3MX2bZBuKFxr7LZdb-O\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 23. 1976-06-23]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DRET again blasted the 31 May \u201cridiculous farce\u201d in which \u201c28 puppets\u201d overseen by \u201carmed guards\u201d had not even been permitted to speak in substance with foreign observers. The statement, signed by Jose Ramos Horta and transmitted by the delegation of Mozambique to the UN (<strong>Document 24<\/strong>), rejected the \u201ctransparent charade\u201d which concealed \u201ca most horrifying drama\u201d in Timor-Leste, and blasted Winspeare for merely parroting Indonesian propaganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-24.-1976-07-06-Moz-DRET-to-UN_Page_1-687x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-444\" srcset=\"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-24.-1976-07-06-Moz-DRET-to-UN_Page_1-687x1024.jpg 687w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-24.-1976-07-06-Moz-DRET-to-UN_Page_1-201x300.jpg 201w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-24.-1976-07-06-Moz-DRET-to-UN_Page_1-768x1144.jpg 768w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-24.-1976-07-06-Moz-DRET-to-UN_Page_1-1031x1536.jpg 1031w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-24.-1976-07-06-Moz-DRET-to-UN_Page_1-1375x2048.jpg 1375w, http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Doc-24.-1976-07-06-Moz-DRET-to-UN_Page_1-scaled.jpg 1719w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/13zeqMjOyOTXksS4P3259klObHmGcRfy9\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 24. 1976-07-06]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite continued Indonesian efforts to draw a UN presence to Dili in July 1976, the UN avoided involvement, with the Secretariat\u2019s department of political affairs and decolonization finding creative and polite ways to turn down invitations for the Secretary-General to visit Dili under Indonesian auspices (<strong>Document 25<\/strong>). The 31 May assembly had convinced no one in New York, and very few elsewhere. The 17 July Indonesian formal annexation of Timor-Leste would prove no more successful.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/15mnlXj6J6ubEPrCZVf78Vo6Er-ZiTuFO\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Doc 25. 1976-07-08]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Compiled by David Webster.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Acronyms used:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C24 = United Nations Special Committee of 24 [on decolonization]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DRET = Democratic Republic of East Timor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EEC = European Economic Community (now the European Union)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fretilin = Independent East Timor Revolutionary Front<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PGET = \u201cProvisional Government of East Timor\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UN = United Nations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>To avoid online read errors, all diacritical marks have been omitted from names.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>E-dossier #6. An act of no choice \u2013 Sporting Club, Dili, 31 May 1976 On 31 May 1976, the Sporting Club in Dili hosted a controversial ceremony in which a handful of Timorese legislators selected by the Indonesian-imposed \u201cProvisional Government of East Timor\u201d petitioned unanimously for annexation by Indonesia. On 31 July, Indonesian president Suharto accepted the petition and declared [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":428,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":""},"categories":[14,16],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",687,353,false],"thumbnail":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-300x154.png",300,154,true],"medium_large":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",640,329,false],"large":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",640,329,false],"elegant_blocks_team_1":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-500x353.png",500,353,true],"elegant_blocks_blog_1":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",687,353,false],"elegant_blocks_slider_1":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",687,353,false],"1536x1536":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",687,353,false],"2048x2048":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",687,353,false],"bizberg_medium":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-300x300.png",300,300,true],"bizberg_gallery":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-500x353.png",500,353,true],"bizberg_blog_list":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-368x240.png",368,240,true],"bizberg_detail_image":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",687,353,false],"bizberg_detail_image_no_sidebar":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976.png",687,353,false],"bizberg_portfolio_homepage":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-600x353.png",600,353,true],"bizberg_blog_list_no_sidebar_1":["http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/31-May-1976-220x190.png",220,190,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"david","author_link":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/?author=2"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"E-dossier #6. An act of no choice \u2013 Sporting Club, Dili, 31 May 1976 On 31 May 1976, the Sporting Club in Dili hosted a controversial ceremony in which a handful of Timorese legislators selected by the Indonesian-imposed \u201cProvisional Government of East Timor\u201d petitioned unanimously for annexation by Indonesia. On 31 July, Indonesian president Suharto&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=427"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":551,"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427\/revisions\/551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/historybeyondborders.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}