Do we need foreign troops?<\/p>\n
The presence of foreign troops in East Timor is now becoming a
\ntopic for discussion in Indonesia. Several answers have been
\ngiven, some are for and some are against inviting United Nations'
\ntroops to take care of East Timor.<\/p>\n
I don't know why, and perhaps people will call me stupid or
\nworse than that, but my answer is automatically a very big \"no\".
\nMy Indonesian heart feels hurt that this very fundamental thing
\nof foreign troops entering sovereign Indonesia and trying to
\nrestore peace and order in a part of Indonesia which is called
\nEast Timor, is considered a possibility.<\/p>\n
I think we have gone through more difficult periods than this
\nin the past and we never asked for help from outside. I remember
\nthe communist uprising in 1948 in our infant republic, while the
\nIndonesian Military was facing the Dutch and even when the
\nNetherlands offered to help with troops to quell the communist
\nrebellion.<\/p>\n
The prime minister Mr. Hatta said definitely \"no\" and we
\nsucceeded in suppressing the communists on our own and continued
\nfighting the Dutch.<\/p>\n
In the 1950s almost half of Indonesia rebelled against the
\ncentral government. There were Dewan Gajah, Dewan Banteng, and
\nDewan Garuda in Sumatra, there was the Dewan Manguni in Sulawesi,
\nthere was the Dewan Lambung Mangkurat in Kalimantan, there was
\nDarul Islam which wanted to establish a republic based on Islamic
\nlaw and all these happened at the same time. On top of that there
\nwas the U.S. helping the rebels by sending weapons and bombers to
\nsupport them. Because of this American help the rebels created a
\nrevolutionary government and later proclaimed a new republic --
\nRepublik Persatuan Indonesia (United Republic of Indonesia).<\/p>\n
But the central government under Soekarno was not shaken and
\nremained firm to maintain the country's sovereignty and tried to
\nsolve their national problems without the help of outsiders. The
\nU.S., seeing the firm position of the central government, changed
\ntheir attitude and in 1958 left the rebels and sided with the
\nJakarta government by sending 60 battalions of equipment to the
\ncentral government (no troops) and in 1961 all rebel leaders
\nsurrendered and peace and order were restored, without any help
\nfrom foreign troops.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian condition at that time was worse compared with
\nthe present condition especially from an economic point of view.
\nThe Indonesian people now are used to luxury and because of that
\nthe nationalistic feeling and spirit is fading. National pride is
\nthin. We don't want to lose those luxury cars, the skyscrapers,
\nthe dollars, etc. etc., and considering to accept help even when
\nthat goes against our national sentiments and pride.<\/p>\n
How big is East Timor? How many people live in East Timor? Are
\nwe going to believe foreign reports saying that the situation in
\nEast Timor is still bad and perhaps worse. Why don't we listen
\nto Gen. Wiranto, who said the situation is improving? Electricity
\nand telephones are functioning again, gunshots are still heard
\nbut very rarely. The situation is becoming normal.<\/p>\n
It is ridiculous to expect that the situation can change 180
\ndegrees in 48 hours. Why is the government given only 48 hours to
\nbring the situation back to normal? We are going in the right
\ndirection and supported by the people's confidence the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) and the police will be able to overcome the
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
I will regret very much if the government including the TNI,
\nin which I had the honor of serving, will rely more on foreign
\ntroops than on our own strength.<\/p>\n
So far I have given only my \"red and white heart\" the chance
\nto speak, my brains and logic say that I am a very loyal citizen
\nand if the TNI and police say \"we give up\" and the government
\napprove inviting foreigners to put order in our house then what
\ncan I do but support their decision. Unfortunately the signs
\npoint to a decision inviting foreign troops.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/do-we-need-foreign-troops-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }