The Un has once again proved itself to be an impotent force. Just as it allowed the slaughter in Rwanda, it allows the slaughter to continue in East Timor. While foreign ministers talk of diplomcy, Timor is being put to the sword. Perhaps if there was an oil well in Timor's territorial sea the nations of the world would be quicker to her aid. But there is no econopmic wealth, only people. Only innocents, unarmed awaiting their slaughter or deportation. The world cares not about such as these. God forbid a humanitarian crisis should interefere with the trade of nations.
The UN in its present form is incompetent. It lacks the capacity to fulfil its charter. In a time of crisis when risk is required, loss likely and no interest of a major nation under threat it disappears as an international force and becomes a chat club.
Indonesia is attempting to destroy the people of East Timor. To destroy their culture. To obliterate them as if they never existed. To make them part of Indonesia. If that is not genocide, then what is? I wonder if Hitler were alive today would the UN stand idly by as he commenced his Jewish extermination? If there was no interest involving a major country then yes, of course they bloody would.
No matter what comes next the UN has failed in East Timor. It promised them a vote for freedom, the chance of independence, the hope of a new future. It has left them utterly in ruins, their future clouded. Would it not be bitter irony if the vote that was supposed to set Timor free was the very vote that finally brought the nation to an end.
The UN can then hang its head in shame and quote its treaties on 'genocide' and 'a nations right to self determination' while the world plays along, but the world knows that when it comes down to business and resolute action is required the UN will still be there quoting its eloquent words, but failing where it counts (unless of course the $ should rear its head).
