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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!!
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To: The Philosopher who wrote (55034)9/11/1999 11:11:00 PM
From: Constant Reader  Read Replies (2) of 108807
 
It has been 20 years since I last opened an international law book so I hesitate to venture an opinion, but this is an informal place, so here goes.

I believe you are correct about these issues: East Timor is under no obligation to honor treaties made by Indonesia. Unless it places itself under the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, rulings of that court are not binding.

I believe you incorrect about the legality of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. I do not think you will find any international bodies that have formally acknowledged Indonesia's claim of sovereignty. It should prove equally difficult to find more than one or two bilateral treaties where Indonesian sovereignty is acknowledged and accepted. In those rare instances, the naked self-interests of the parties to the agreement will undoubtedly lie exposed as these will doubtless prove to be nothing less than the division of the spoils of conquest and subjugation. I doubt even the ICJ would uphold treaties enacted during this period (if East Timor accepts jurisdiction). It may be that East Timor will be forced to accept these treaties in return for financial support from such nations as Australia.

The world-wide bluster about democracy and self-determination in East Timor will probably fade away. The official protests of governments all over the world reflect the simple truth that few, if any, nations accept Indonesia's spurious claim to East Timor. This is not to say that any nation or group of nations actually plans to do anything about it.

Then again, it has been a long time and I could be wrong.
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