Borneo Wiki CASE FOR A REFERENDUM- THE REALITY IS LESS HOPEFUL Before a referendum can be held there must be proof of support for this idea from a significant proportion of the population. The Scottish Nationalist Party overcame this as it is in power and could call for such a referendum in Sept 2014. In Spain and other parts of Europe various independence/ referendum movements have broad support and can put pressure on the incumbent governments for a referendum. In the case of East Timor and South Sudan both the ruling colonial powers (after a period of warfare) agreed to hold their referendum supervised by the UN . In our case the Sarawak guerrilla independence war did not conclude with such a outcome as either (a) the PARAKU forces were too weak to make such a demand or (b) They did not have this idea and did not negotiated for a referendum. (Even if they did, the Malayan colonial forces would have been better organized to win). If they had fought on for another 10 years the East Timor and South Sudan referendums would have given them the idea. But that is history. PEACEFUL WAY: The least painful and most peaceful way is for an independence referendum movement or party to win the next or next State election and capture power as in Scotland. It is unlikely that such a Sarawak movement can be organised by 2016 or even 2020 judging from the Internet discussions. There are no new participants in the Internet discussions from the Sarawak intelligentsia which is burdened by being over intelligent and the inbred fear of reprisals. Official reprisals will surely come even before the movement begins to have a real impact. This is the reality and no matter what we say unless we organise to spread the word, the Internet discussions will only have very limited impact. We cannot hope for an “Arab Spring” when even more effective media like Radio Free Sarawak could not mobilise the Ulu people from their dependent mindsets created by 50 years of drip fed development and handouts at election times. The other major issue is that the Opposition is compromised as they are all Malayan controlled parties which fits in as part of UMNO colonial subjugation agenda. If the Malayan colonial rulers are smart they will call for a referendum in Sabah and Sarawak to settle the issue but strictly subject to UN supervision. At this stage they might even win the vote despite the dire straits Sabah Sarawak have been put in by being in Malaysia. Having said all the negatives we have a tiny band of aspiring people wanting Sarawak national self-determination. May be they are the fresh buds of spring... but they need to act and to organise to spread the word before they are nipped.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 06:49:19 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015