I am sorry, but they used AK-47's and not U.S. weapons, at least in the initial assault, to avoid offending American sensibilities. That's all it takes to please a politician. The U.S. is more directly responsible for handing over Irian Jaya to the Javanese in order to cover up special operations supporting anti-Sukarno rebels in Sumatera. In order to win the release of a CIA radio operator captured by the Indonesian military, the U.S., acting as a U.N. sponsored election judge in determining the fate of the Irian people decided against the popular vote for independence or union with Papua New Guinea and supported the decision of a "Council of Elders" that Irian should belong to Indonesia.
Did anyone hear the report on Canadian radio about Pak Suharto's behavior in B.C. during the APEC meeting last spring? He or his bodyguards asked the Royal Canadian Mounties if his bodyguards could shoot protesters there!!! It is a good thing he's out, I hope things change. There are at least two other areas in which sovereignty is contested: Irian Jaya (the US is at fault) and Aceh, in Sumatra. Much of the Moluccas initially wanted independence from Java when the Dutch left- this history underlies some of the X-tiam - Muslim violence in Ambon, as well. Anyway, I would love to hear the technical details, I hope someone will provide them. (Aku cinta Rupiah!)
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I am sorry, but they used AK-47's and not U.S. weapons, at least in the initial assault, to avoid offending American sensibilities. That's all it takes to please a politician. The U.S. is more directly responsible for handing over Irian Jaya to the Javanese in order to cover up special operations supporting anti-Sukarno rebels in Sumatera. In order to win the release of a CIA radio operator captured by the Indonesian military, the U.S., acting as a U.N. sponsored election judge in determining the fate of the Irian people decided against the popular vote for independence or union with Papua New Guinea and supported the decision of a "Council of Elders" that Irian should belong to Indonesia.
Did anyone hear the report on Canadian radio about Pak Suharto's behavior in B.C. during the APEC meeting last spring? He or his bodyguards asked the Royal Canadian Mounties if his bodyguards could shoot protesters there!!! It is a good thing he's out, I hope things change. There are at least two other areas in which sovereignty is contested: Irian Jaya (the US is at fault) and Aceh, in Sumatra. Much of the Moluccas initially wanted independence from Java when the Dutch left- this history underlies some of the X-tiam - Muslim violence in Ambon, as well. Anyway, I would love to hear the technical details, I hope someone will provide them. (Aku cinta Rupiah!)