DEATH OF A NATION: THE TIMOR CONSPIRACY

Australia, 1994, 75 minutes, Black-and-white/Colour.
John Pilger.
Directed by David Munro.

A topical documentary film on national violence and the suffering of ordinary people in East Timor. Sadly moving.

John Pilger has a reputation for being incisive and hard-hitting in in his explorations of social injustice around the world. He has made a range of films from an exposé of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia to the history of Australian aborigines. Here his questioning of political interviewees is politely quiet, but definitely incisive.

In a short running time, we are offered a screen debate about the invasion/annexation of East Timor by Indonesia. It is enhanced by the visuals of the land itself, people talking about their tragic suffering, images of the Dili massacre. We are also treated to euphemistic political talk by Australian, British, Indonesian figures and by Henry Kissinger. There is also some callous talk by number of politicians including a former British Minister of Defence.

Obviously the film is partisan, but it is almost 18 years since the invasion and more and more information has become available to assess the truth of claims. One of the benefits from the often-intrusive media is that they capture pictures, make them available quickly and serve as pressuring politicians to be more forthcoming and, perhaps, honest.

East Timor achieved independence in 1999.