Although acquisition of a territory through conquest became unlawful with the adoption of UN charter yet some parts of the world were annexed through use of force. Unfortunately it was India which started this annexation spree soon after its Independence. Hyderabad was invaded in the name of a police action. Junagarh was also forced to join Indian Union through a military action. Since people of both these states were by and large Hindus, it was presumed that they too wanted to join India. Getting emboldened by mute response of the world community towards these aggressions India resorted to similar action in context of Goa in early sixties. Besides formal protests nothing was done to force India to get this annexation legalized. Appropriate way to do this would have been a referendum for getting the consent of the people of Goa. Indonesia was also having a Goa like Portuguese colony in its vicinity. When Indonesia observed that India has managed to acquire the control of Goa through conquest without much resistance from the world community, it also resorted to an invasion against East Timor. Within days, they controlled the area and formally annexed it as Indonesia’s twenty seventh province. Getting benefit of the cold war, Indonesia got away with Eastern Timor without significant reaction from the world.
The people of East Timor however unlike their counterparts in Goa did not loose heart. They decided to resist the occupation of their land. For decades they continued to fight. No one responded to their cries for justice although one third of their population vanished in this struggle. The issue was deliberated in the United Nations. Various countries supported the right of secession for the people of East Timor. Indonesia like India was against internationalization of the issue. International Community asked it to resolve the issue through a bilateral dialogue with Portugal. Indonesia didn't yield to the international pressure. The recession which hit Indonesian economy in recent years forced its government to respond to the demands of the world community. Western countries made it a condition precedent to bail out Indonesia from its economic crisis. After several rounds of negotiations, Indonesia and Portugal resolved to seek the views of Timorians through a consultation process. Although this process finally turned out to be a referendum or plebiscite yet the term was not used because of some Indonesian inhibitions relating to this terminology. The consultation process under UN supervision was concluded in the beginning of this month. People were asked to choose between an Indonesian offer of autonomy and independence. Seventy eight percent of the voters supported independence whereas twenty two percent voted against it. Indonesian government accepted the majority decision. They released the secessionist leaders to facilitate smooth transition of power. The twenty two percent who had voted against the freedom had no option but to go along with the majority decision.
The events of East Timor are relevant to Kashmir in more than one ways and to India in context of Goa as well. United Nations and the world community have no option but to facilitate solution of the Kashmir same way. Kashmir problem is much older than that of East Timor. The struggle for secession of Kashmir precedes the freedom movement of East Timor. Kashmiris have to be taken into consideration for resolution of their long standing problem. Even if solution to the Kashmir problem is made through bilateral negotiations, its modus oprandi has to be a defacto plebiscite. India and Pakistan can use any term for it. More than twenty percent of the Timorian people were against independence. Existence of minority opposed to secession did not disqualify them from getting independence. Existence of non-Muslims in some parts of Kashmir who are opposed to independence cannot now become a valid argument for denial of right of secession for Kashmiris. The standing of Kashmiris as aspirants of freedom is much stronger as compared to East Timorians on account of UN resolution in their favour. The United Nations through its resolutions has recognized the right of self-determination for Kashmiris. The way more than twenty percent opponents of Timorian independence were asked to abide by the decision of the majority those who may oppose majority decision in Kashmiri have to go along with the majority.
In case the United Nations confines its role to East Timor only and does not act in Kashmir it will confirm the impression of bias that already persists about its functioning. East Timorians are mostly Christians. They were demanding secession from a Muslim state. Kashmiris are predominantly Muslims and are demanding freedom from a non-Muslim State. In case UN remains indifferent the apathy is likely to create an impression that UN has become tool of the Western Nations who are using it to serve the Christian interests.
Success of Timorians will further revitalize Kashmir movement as it symbolizes a hope of success for them. Kashmiris see it as the beginning of the same process in Asia that led to freedom of so many East European Nations from the communism in early nineties. One should not forget that it were the East European movements for democracy that catalyzed the present Kashmir movement towards the last decade of the 20th century. The march of East European Nations towards democracy led to fragmentation of many States including Yugoslavia of Martial Tito. To what extent the dawn of independence in East Asia influences Pandith Nehru's India will become clear in due course of time. An important point that one should not overlook is likely impact of independence of East Timor upon the people of Goa. Goa like Timor is Christian dominated former Portuguese colony. Incidents of violence against Christians in various parts of India may motivate Catholics over there to demand independence. Given the fact that both these places share history, faith and annexation through invasions, one cannot rule out Goa following the direction of East Timor.
The people of East Timor however unlike their counterparts in Goa did not loose heart. They decided to resist the occupation of their land. For decades they continued to fight. No one responded to their cries for justice although one third of their population vanished in this struggle. The issue was deliberated in the United Nations. Various countries supported the right of secession for the people of East Timor. Indonesia like India was against internationalization of the issue. International Community asked it to resolve the issue through a bilateral dialogue with Portugal. Indonesia didn't yield to the international pressure. The recession which hit Indonesian economy in recent years forced its government to respond to the demands of the world community. Western countries made it a condition precedent to bail out Indonesia from its economic crisis. After several rounds of negotiations, Indonesia and Portugal resolved to seek the views of Timorians through a consultation process. Although this process finally turned out to be a referendum or plebiscite yet the term was not used because of some Indonesian inhibitions relating to this terminology. The consultation process under UN supervision was concluded in the beginning of this month. People were asked to choose between an Indonesian offer of autonomy and independence. Seventy eight percent of the voters supported independence whereas twenty two percent voted against it. Indonesian government accepted the majority decision. They released the secessionist leaders to facilitate smooth transition of power. The twenty two percent who had voted against the freedom had no option but to go along with the majority decision.
The events of East Timor are relevant to Kashmir in more than one ways and to India in context of Goa as well. United Nations and the world community have no option but to facilitate solution of the Kashmir same way. Kashmir problem is much older than that of East Timor. The struggle for secession of Kashmir precedes the freedom movement of East Timor. Kashmiris have to be taken into consideration for resolution of their long standing problem. Even if solution to the Kashmir problem is made through bilateral negotiations, its modus oprandi has to be a defacto plebiscite. India and Pakistan can use any term for it. More than twenty percent of the Timorian people were against independence. Existence of minority opposed to secession did not disqualify them from getting independence. Existence of non-Muslims in some parts of Kashmir who are opposed to independence cannot now become a valid argument for denial of right of secession for Kashmiris. The standing of Kashmiris as aspirants of freedom is much stronger as compared to East Timorians on account of UN resolution in their favour. The United Nations through its resolutions has recognized the right of self-determination for Kashmiris. The way more than twenty percent opponents of Timorian independence were asked to abide by the decision of the majority those who may oppose majority decision in Kashmiri have to go along with the majority.
In case the United Nations confines its role to East Timor only and does not act in Kashmir it will confirm the impression of bias that already persists about its functioning. East Timorians are mostly Christians. They were demanding secession from a Muslim state. Kashmiris are predominantly Muslims and are demanding freedom from a non-Muslim State. In case UN remains indifferent the apathy is likely to create an impression that UN has become tool of the Western Nations who are using it to serve the Christian interests.
Success of Timorians will further revitalize Kashmir movement as it symbolizes a hope of success for them. Kashmiris see it as the beginning of the same process in Asia that led to freedom of so many East European Nations from the communism in early nineties. One should not forget that it were the East European movements for democracy that catalyzed the present Kashmir movement towards the last decade of the 20th century. The march of East European Nations towards democracy led to fragmentation of many States including Yugoslavia of Martial Tito. To what extent the dawn of independence in East Asia influences Pandith Nehru's India will become clear in due course of time. An important point that one should not overlook is likely impact of independence of East Timor upon the people of Goa. Goa like Timor is Christian dominated former Portuguese colony. Incidents of violence against Christians in various parts of India may motivate Catholics over there to demand independence. Given the fact that both these places share history, faith and annexation through invasions, one cannot rule out Goa following the direction of East Timor.
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