Geez Alexander! You are a bloody wonder:
splitting an infinitive,
qualifying the definitive,
rendering common sense asunder.
Engaging in hyperbole
repeating that tautology.
You must have heard the sigh
when we heard you say, today
East Timorese can try
for self-determination,
if they find that preferable to
Indonesian extermination.
Because you sit upon the fence,
you do not mean in any sense
that they should attempt to wrench,
for their invaded country,
independence.
East Timor won't be free.
It is not Liberal policy.
In the interest of defence
you speak, it seems to me,
fluent diplomatic nonsense.
Things haven't been the same,
it has been a different game,
since Suharto's downfall:
but, they're only natives after all
so line them up against the wall.
Santa Cruz - history.
Los Palos - a distant memory.
Alas - not tyranny.
Extreme, yes;
you must confess
regret, even - some distress.
Burning of houses and the deaths;
they were clearly an excess.
But, it is what you would expect,
after 20 years of peaceful integration,
as the Timorese strive to find their place
within the Indonesian nation.