[gandalftb]

The backstory is about control over the island of Timor.

The Indos invaded and brought settlers into Timor and executed the Timor leadership. The Timorese fought back and won with the help of the Aussies and our Marine support.

Now the east half of the island is independent Timor Leste with a permanent Aussie base and training center for our Marines.

The issue is about land not religion even though the Timorese are not Muslim.

The Indos should be a little less sensitive about their image and more sensitive to the suffering they have caused the Timorese.

[Verginius Rufus]

The term "Pancasila" goes back to Sanskrit, the ancient Indo-European language of northern India. The first part meaning "five" is cognate with Greek pente, Russian pyat' and English "five." The same root is found in Punjab (region of five rivers) and punch (a drink with five ingredients).

[Unam Sanctam]

“the Indonesian officer went to the academy’s head office to complain and reportedly found a play on words referencing Pancasila, but ending the word with “gila” which means crazy or mad in Indonesian” — I doubt the average English speaking Australian soldier would know enough Indonesian to understand this, and even if this alleged gibe was directed to Australian officers who may know some Indonesian, I have doubts that they would be joking like this in Indonesian. It must have been a joke directed by and/or to Indonesians. I think we are not getting the whole story here.