Paul Daley – The resounding pro-independence result of East Timor's autonomy ballot yesterday allowed Alexander Downer to say what has been on the minds of foreign ministers since Indonesia invaded, then annexed, the territory 24 years ago.

"I think if the Indonesians, in the late 1970s and through the 1980s, had shown a much greater respect for human rights in East Timor and had pursued an active hearts and minds campaign there ... they could have won the East Timorese over to the cause of integration."

That Indonesia chose a horrific, far more brutal path of repression – which may have cost the lives of up to 200,000 East Timorese – will remain that country's shame. Indonesia's decision in the face of enormous international pressure to allow the vote will not change that.

Mr Downer yesterday pledged that "Australia will stand by the people of East Timor". Given what he revealed about Australia's military plans for the province, he apparently has every intention of sticking to that pledge.

But, of course, the East Timorese heard very similar words from Australia's diggers in World War II, just before Australia abandoned the place. Again, after the Indonesian invasion in 1975, Australia turned its back on East Timor for the sake of its relationship with Indonesia.

As Mr Downer noted the historical significance of yesterday's result, he knew only too well what the cost of an independent East Timor would be to Australia.

For a start, in the next month it appears likely that Australia will have to contribute heavily to two military forces for East Timor – the first a transition security mission, and the second a United Nations peacekeeping mission. There is every chance, given the ruthlessness of the militias, that Australians could be killed or injured in the process.

Peacekeeping costs serious money, and the increase in defence spending that the Prime Minister referred to last week, will soon have to become a reality.

After that, of course, Australia will have to dig even deeper to ensure that East Timor has enough development aid to ensure its long-term place as a successful nation in the region.

"We won't let East Timor down," Mr Downer said yesterday. "We will do all we can to help them move towards independence and to help East Timor once independence takes place, to become a viable and successful neighbor of Australia's."

Now, Australia has a golden opportunity to right some of the historical wrongs it has dealt East Timor.