Clinton, RI opposed on E. Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): United States President Bill Clinton may prove
\nto be another obstacle blocking Indonesia's plan to shunt the
\nissue of East Timor off the United Nations' agenda, says a senior
\nresearcher.<\/p>\n
Dewi Fortuna Anwar of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\ntold The Jakarta Post yesterday that during the Cold War, the
\nU.S. government did not put full pressure on Indonesia over East
\nTimor because of Jakarta's anti-communist stance.<\/p>\n
Today, the anti-communist safety net is no longer applicable,
\nDewi said. \"Indonesia and United States are without doubt
\nstanding on different sides over East Timor,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"President Clinton has promised to fight the 'undemocratic'
\nconduct of other countries. East Timor is considered to be an
\n'undemocratic' problem of Indonesia, and now Clinton can't use
\nthe anti-communist apology anymore,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said the new UN secretary-general's plan to review the
\nformat of talks on East Timor and placing the issue on the world
\nbody's agenda may spell trouble for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"I am worried about Kofi Annan's plan to review the East Timor
\ndiscussions in the UN,\" she said, on Indonesia's efforts to
\nprevent the East Timor question from getting onto the UN agenda.<\/p>\n
Ghanian Kofi Annan was elected UN chief late last year
\nreplacing Egyptian Boutros Boutros-Ghali after the U.S. gave him
\ntheir full support. The UN does not recognize Indonesia's rule of
\nEast Timor and still considers Lisbon the administering power in
\nthe former Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
\"We've been trying to push the East Timor question out of the
\nspotlight,\" Dewi said. \"Our diplomats always insist the issue is
\n'not negotiable' because the government says so. The problem is
\nthe rest of the world does not share this view and the government
\ncan't shut its mouth,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Another researcher, Irman G. Lanti said diplomats should not
\nbe blamed. \"Even the best salesman cannot sell damaged
\nmerchandise,\" he said. \"Apart from (separatist leader) Jose Ramos
\nHorta, we're the ones who have been making the East Timor
\nquestion difficult to settle.\" (35)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/clinton-ri-opposed-on-e-timor-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}