I'm not. It seems to me that they are having internal problems that need to be resolved first.
The Law of the Sea is the basis of much of our international law. The first law of the sea is that he who has the power makes the law. Mao was definitely correct when he said political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. International law is generally observed only up to the point those willing to project power to enforce it are actually willing to project that power.
Australia saw the writing on the wall and could read as well as anyone else in Asia. The United States was withdrawing, no nation was ascendant, and Indonesia wanted to make a deal. Fine, lets make a deal.
Later, along comes this inconvenient series of atrocities, known to the world only because the Indonesians think they can safely open the province up to tourism and the foreign press. The lid is off, and try as they might, it won't go back on. Suddenly, the industrialized democracies start getting interested again. What would you do if you were Australia? Make a deal with what appears to be an emerging nation in need of financial assistance? Why not, it might just save that dirty little treaty, and supporting the democratic aspirations of a subjugated people plays well on the domestic front. East Timor is no further from Australia than Los Angeles is from San Francisco. Besides, the other party was in power. I am exaggerating, I admit, but it is how the game gets played. |
