NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5024390.stm

It started off as a bit of rioting by disgruntled police and soldiers who wanted a raise but instead got fired, but by know it's become pretty much total anarchy with rival gangs attacking people for their ethnicity.

The story goes that when the Indonesians were forced to leave, they told the West that it would only be a matter of years before East Timor would break apart along ethnic lines. We laughed at them...prematurely, it would seem.

So, do you think it was still the right thing to do to intervene in the war for independence there and create East Timor as a nation?

Leonstein, you're talking as if the nation has already collapsed, which is not the case. They are going through serious difficulties though.

Country gets independence for the first time in hundreds of years from an oppressive ruler.

Civil War.

Unexpected? Not really. Its happened lots of times before. All the groups vying for independence put aside mutual differences until they won, then the power struggle opens up. Its normal.

A bit of an overstatement Neo Leonstein, East Timor is hardly in the shambles it was after the militia went nuts in the late 90's. 1300 Australian troops are already there and the situation is not half as bad as civil war.

Country gets independence for the first time in hundreds of years from an oppressive ruler.

Civil War.

Unexpected? Not really. Its happened lots of times before. All the groups vying for independence put aside mutual differences until they won, then the power struggle opens up. Its normal.
Happened here, in fact.