Criticisms on Aceh and Timor<\/p>\n
Ramzy Hasibuan and Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo (The Jakarta Post,
\nSept. 9 and July 25) deplored my articles on East Timor (Jakarta
\nrights tribunal buries E. Timor atrocities, Aug. 20) and Aceh
\n(Unspoken protest amid prolonged war in Aceh, July 8) and
\nuncritically rejoiced in Hilde May's criticism of my article on
\nAceh (July 15).<\/p>\n
Sumarsono's and Hasibuan's angry responses do not address the
\nfacts raised. The responses presumably emanate from their
\npatriotic mood, however misplaced. They don't change any
\nconclusions in my articles, but suggest the syndrome from which
\nmany apparently still suffer: Our nation, from their point of
\nview, rather unexpectedly "lost" East Timor.<\/p>\n
Why should one continue to be disturbed by the issue, which,
\nby implication, is a dishonest denial that the territory was
\nnever "ours," but was illegally annexed? Does it help
\nreconciliation with the people of East Timor?<\/p>\n
Hilde May, referring to my report on Aceh of last July, said
\n"the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) ... eventually provoked martial
\nlaw." It is not as simple as it may seem. If, as even the
\nIndonesian Military has recognized, GAM indeed controlled a large
\npart of Aceh, why should it prefer to live under martial law?<\/p>\n
She reminded us that "GAM unlawfully collected ID cards" and
\n"those who refused to obey GAM's orders had to face punishment."
\nWorse still, the villagers I recently met in Bireuen and Pidie
\nhave confirmed that GAM (or men claiming to be from GAM) was
\nresponsible for intimidating village heads and for shooting at
\npublic transport vehicles, etc. I have written about this
\nelsewhere.<\/p>\n
For May to denounce my article as "one-sided" is therefore
\nunfair. It is even more puzzling, as she expected me to explain
\nwhether I believed that "GAM would offer better leadership" while
\nwondering "what kind of government, (GAM) would like to
\nestablish."<\/p>\n
Why should I explain things that (as I made clear in the
\narticle) were unlikely to occur, and therefore didn't even
\nmention?<\/p>\n
ABOEPRIJADI SANTOSO
\nAmsterdam<\/p>",
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