Digging in the knife

While Australia announces even closer security ties with Indonesia, it’s worth remembering that the Muslim nation’s democratic impulses aren’t fully formed:

“Indonesia has banned three films about its occupation of East Timor, saying they could ‘reopen old wounds’. The films were due to be shown at a film festival last month in Jakarta.

Indonesian troops killed tens of thousands of people in East Timor during their 24-year occupation of the tiny territory. The films focus on alleged atrocities during the occupation and UN-led reconciliation since the referendum in 1999.

“‘We feared the films might reopen old wounds when a bridge of friendship is being built between East Timor and Indonesia,’ said Titie Said, head of Indonesia’s film censor board.”

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