The decision by the Habibie regime in 1998 to offer "the widest possible autonomy", including a separate electoral system, flag, and so on, was a retreat by the Habibie regime from the position of Suharto who refused any kind of autonomy.

The decision by Habibie in January to announce that the East Timorese would have the opportunity to reject or accept the autonomy proposal and would be "granted independence" if they rejected autonomy was a retreat by the Habibie regime from its former position of autonomy as the "final solution" to the East Timor problem.

Both these retreats were a result of the mounting pressure on the Habibie regime resulting from the escalating protest movement in East Timor, particularly by the East Timorese student movement. The East Timorese student movement had been conducting consistent mobilising campaigns throughout most of 1998. The Habibie regime was also under pressure on other fronts within Indonesia itself facing massive student protests in November, 1998, increasing self-determination protests in Aceh and escalating social tensions in many parts of Indonesia such as Ambon and Kalimantan.

Pressure on Habibie reduced

During the first part of 1999, the pressure on the Habibie regime and ABRI was lessened for a number of reasons. Firstly, the so-called mainstream rivals of President Habibie, namely Megawati Sukarnoputri, Abdurrahman Wahid, and Amien Rais have not engaged in any activities whatsoever that would have increased pressure on Habibie and ABRI to move forward on a peaceful self-determination process. In fact, Megawati and Wahid have made statements stating that they supported the continuing integration of East Timor in Indonesia thus reducing pressure on Habibie and ABRI.

Only the radical student movement, which adopted a pro-self-determination position at a national assembly of students in Bali in March, East Timor solidarity NGOs and the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) have taken clear pro-self-determinations stands. In East Timor, as an act of good faith and an indication that the East Timorese resistance did not want to cause difficulties for Indonesia in a period of social and economic crisis, all actions that may be seen as confrontation with Indonesia had been stopped. The regime and ABRI have taken advantage of this act of good will by the East Timorese resistance.

With the victories for the East Timorese movement during 1998 and in January 1999, it is also fair to say that an euphoria developed which has perhaps resulted in a lessening of public protest and pressure campaigns and a diversion of many groups outside of Indonesia towards the issues of humanitarian assistance and economic reconstruction.

Xanana Gusmao on political solidarity

In an interview with the Australian newspaper Green Left Weekly in March Xanana Gusmao emphasised the need for continuing political solidarity as a priority:

"It is crucial for people overseas to maintain pressure on the Indonesian government to keep up political solidarity. While it is good that people are preparing to provide aid for East Timorese economic development, the solution to the East Timor issue is not with us yet." Neither Habibie nor ABRI are genuine democrats or supporters of self-determination. Whatever retreats they make, they make in order to safeguard their own interests and only when under pressure.

As soon as pressure is taken off, they show themselves ready to resort to the most brazen acts of open terror, brutality and cruelty as exemplified in the massacres in Liquisa and in the house of Mr Manuel Carrascalao and as exemplified in the whole history of the Indonesian occupation.

Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) therefore:

1. states its agreement with Xanana Gusmao on the need to prioritise political solidarity with the East Timorese struggle for self-determination;
2. urges that the international solidarity movement, including in Australia, adopt the slogan of "no let up on public pressure until every ABRI soldier leaves East Timor";
3. reaffirms its support for the International Day of Solidarity for Indonesian and East Timorese Students scheduled for May 22, the first day of the post-Suharto era, and calls on all groups worldwide to plan activities on that day. This action must be made as large as possible, no matter what diplomatic activities may take place in the meantime - "no let up on public pressure until every ABRI soldier leaves East Timor";
4. calls for steps to extend and intensify concrete collaboration between the Australian and international solidarity movement, the Indonesian forces who have taken a principled and unconditional stand on self-determination in East Timor and the East Timorese resistance;
5. reaffirms its demands on the Indonesian and Australian governments, namely:
1. Indonesia out of East Timor! Immediate withdrawal of all Indonesian military!
2. Disarm all the ABRI-backed terror gang militias!
3. Australian government to immediately announce the suspension of all military ties with Jakarta! As a first step, the Australian government should withdraw all Australian military personnel currently stationed in Indonesia, including military attaches in the Australian Embassy.
4. Australian government to immediately announce its withdrawal of previous recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty over East Timor!
5. Australian government to immediately establish an East Timor reconstruction fund, financed by a special tax on all Australian companies which have profited from business operations in Indonesia and East Timor under Suharto!