After the ballot<\/p>\n
Though it may sound rather absurd to some people given the
\nmomentousness of the event, not many Indonesians -- possibly not
\neven President B.J. Habibie who set the process in motion -- may
\nbe aware of the full ramifications of Monday's UN-supervised
\nself-determination ballot in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Ever since 1976, Jakarta has regarded the former Portuguese
\ncolony as its 27th province, in defiance of the United Nations
\nand most of the rest of the world, which have consistently
\nregarded the territory as a non-self-governing territory under
\nLisbon's jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
During those 23 years, Jakarta has administered the half-
\nisland, often with an iron fist as resistance from
\nproindependence fighters and activists continued to smolder.
\nDuring that span, a bureaucracy controlled by Jakarta has taken
\nhold and various interests -- social, commercial as well as
\npolitical -- have grown roots.<\/p>\n
Little wonder that so many protests and charges of partiality
\nin favor of the proindependence camp have been hurled at the
\nUnited Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) by pro-Indonesia
\nparties -- not to mention the violence that preceded the ballot.
\nAfter all, those pro-Indonesia interest groups have a good deal
\nto lose if the vote should turn out in favor of independence.<\/p>\n
But while such protests and charges of partiality are
\nunderstandable enough coming from those directly involved in the
\nballoting in East Timor on Monday, similar charges voiced by
\ncritics in Jakarta -- especially when coming from government
\nofficials -- may give some reason for apprehension since they
\ncould indicate a sense of official dissatisfaction on the part of
\nauthorities in Jakarta over the course of developments in East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
In this context, foreign minister Ali Alatas' observation that
\nthe ballot proceeded smoothly despite outbreaks of violence here
\nand there may be taken as a welcome indication that the Jakarta
\nadministration is ready to accept whatever the outcome of
\nMonday's ballot. For this, the Indonesian authorities, civilian
\nas well as military, deserve to be commended for the way in which
\nthey handled the final phases of the process of the ballot. Many
\nexpected worse, given earlier charges of Indonesian military
\npersonnel giving covert support to pro-Indonesian militias
\noperating in East Timor.<\/p>\n
At this point, though, a warning must be sounded. Reports of
\npro-Indonesian militia blocking land and air passages into and
\nout of East Timor, if true, could yet upset the final phases of a
\nprocedure designed to bring the peace and well-being the people
\nof East Timor so well deserve. Responsibility for peace and order
\nhaving been entrusted to Jakarta, it is the duty of the
\nIndonesian security officials to ensure that all their good work
\nis not obliterated by people taking the law into their own hands.<\/p>\n
Analysts have warned that Monday's ballot, whatever its
\nresult, may not necessarily mean the liberation of the people of
\nEast Timor from the strife and violence that have plagued them
\nfor more than two decades. As yet, nobody knows for certain what
\nthe people's choice in East Timor is. But whatever that choice --
\nwhether autonomy within Indonesia or full independence -- we hope
\nIndonesia can prove to be truly helpful in guaranteeing a
\npeaceful and orderly transition to a better East Timor.<\/p>\n
The moment of truth is near and there is no turning back.
\nShould East Timor opt for independence, Indonesia should, for
\nonce, be able to accept reality and bow out with grace and
\ndignity.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/after-the-ballot-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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