Confusion in East Timor<\/p>\n
Many citizens of East Timor are in a state of confusion. Some
\nare perhaps close to distraction over to question of whether to
\nremain part of the Republic of Indonesia with broad autonomy or
\nmake a bid for independence and remain as \"an international
\nbeggar\".<\/p>\n
The region is reportedly rich in oil, uranium and other
\nminerals. An independent East Timor would be like a Kuwait with
\nthe social democratic principles of the Scandinavian countries.
\nUnfortunately, this picture is nothing but a myth put about by
\nthe anti-integrationist Ramos Horta in his efforts to gain
\nsupport. Even if the mineral deposits in East Timor do exist, it
\nwould take time, not to say expertise, to exploit them.<\/p>\n
East Timor is a place of natural beauty, however foreign
\nhoteliers will obviously prefer investing in Bali to East Timor.
\nIn the end, an independent East Timor would have no choice but to
\nresort to foreign, particularly western, aid. And of course from
\ncertain groups in Indonesia. The state of East Timor would become
\n\"an international beggar\".<\/p>\n
During the Cold War, it would have been easy for East Timor to
\nsell itself and lease a small plot of its land to a superpower
\nfor use as a military base. Now, rather than East Timor, the
\nUnited States would prefer Indonesian islands in the proximity of
\nthe South China Sea. For all these years, East Timor has only
\ninflicted losses on Indonesia and has never given anything in
\nreturn. In fact, many East Timorese, including Ramos Horta, have
\nbenefited from the East Timor question by \"selling the East Timor
\nconflict.\" I'm not sure if the many East Timorese who live abroad
\non the sales of the conflict will ever return to the territory of
\ntheir birth.<\/p>\n
Let's assume that East Timor was granted independence and that
\nits economy was be supported by countries such as Norway,
\nPortugal and certain quarters in Indonesia. In light of this,
\nmerchants in Indonesia's eastern regions should prepare
\nthemselves because they will soon be able to take advantage of
\nthe new situation. Yet, it does not mean that Indonesia will give
\nup East Timor. The people of \"the East Timorese state\" will
\ncertainly need daily necessities such as rice, soap, fuel oil and
\nclothing. While these necessities may be supplied by merchants
\nfrom Indonesia's eastern regions, the needs of the people in the
\nricher classes, such as jewelry, may well be met by Australian
\ntraders. This is not much, however. Obviously, these traders must
\npay for virtually unsubsidized Garuda tickets to Jakarta or
\nDenpasar. Ships managed by PELNI will also scrap their route to
\nDili immediately.<\/p>\n
Certainly, there will be a high demand for school teachers,
\ndoctors and midwives in East Timor, because those assigned there
\nnow will soon leave. There will also be a high demand for
\npolicemen (but not soldiers), civil servants and diplomats, who
\nwill be dispatched abroad. So they will need a currency and a
\nbanking system, including foreign reserves, to pay these people's
\nsalaries. It is very likely that casinos will be opened
\neverywhere. Unfortunately, people will continue to prefer
\nChristmas Island, where casinos are well established. So, who
\nwill manage the currency?<\/p>\n
All this has brought back to my memory the words of a Catholic
\nnun from Yogyakarta. I met her when Horta and Bishop Belo
\nreceived the Nobel Prize. \"Do not treat the East Timorese that
\nway,\" she said. What she meant closely resembles what Gus Dur
\nonce said: Indonesia can live without East Timor but East Timor
\ncannot live without Indonesia.<\/p>\n
HENDRAR PRAMUDYO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/confusion-in-east-timor-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }