Tony Lloyd’s wry humour and Lancastrian imperturbability helped immensely in our observer delegation to the 1999 referendum on East Timorese independence from Indonesia.
The Labour politician agreed to steer this Catholic Institute for Worldwide Relations initiative, regardless of his attribute self-deprecation that he was extra of a Latin Americanist.
Whereas easy-going, he might additionally present his steely aspect. On being ordered out of our UN-flagged Land Rover by the military in order that it could possibly be looked for weapons, Tony stood his floor, asserting our impartial standing and stating that we weren’t topic to Indonesian diktat. The military drove off.
Along with his Latin American expertise, Tony understood the methods of casual state violence, however had a compassionate sympathy for many who suffered that violence.
