I do agree with some of the points you made about the unfair share of revenues from the Timor Sea including Autralia’s reluctance to bring the matter to ICJ or ITLOS. Yet I’m not quite sure about the ‘good work’ done by the aid organizations since most of the aid money aimed at empowering local community ended up in the pockets of the aid workers, their advisor, consultants, and other administrative work rather than investing into projects that have real impact on the lives of Timorese people. This is completely a separate topic that need to be examined thoroughly before one could draws a conclusion that a ‘good work’ has been done by the aid organizations.

Also the way australian government deals with the Timor Sea dispute is not a new phenomenon. Australia government had consistently supported Indonesian occupation and refused to recognize the illegality of the occupation for such a recognition would result in, among others, the loss of the revenues it derived from the Timor Sea.

Thank godness! violence escalated in ‘99 providing a window of opportunity for Australia to redeem some of its dignity as a big brother of the Pacific- and hence won a status as the ‘reluctant savior’ of this tiny nation whose people voluntarily and bravely fought and died alongside australians during the WWII to prevent the Japanese military from invading Australia during- for which Timorese are hardly given any credits!

Now if Indonesia had pulled out peacefully, there will not even be what you call “cruel duplicity of pride” among australian public in general. What would be left for Australian government to claim? … …ANYTHING BUT PRIDE..!

As an East Timorese, I am [and I believe most of the Timorese are] used to the unfairness of Australia [and the international community generally speaking]. We have been betrayed many times before in various different ways and we learned and grew from it. Yes, we struggled, we fell, but we had to get back on our feet again and continue going! But I do feel profoundly sorry for australia and austrlians ..!

All the best with your future writings Alex..:))