E. Timor: Another Western conspiracy?<\/p>\n
By T.M. Callahan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): If you agree with Malaysian Prime Minister
\nMahathir's remarks in the Oct. 14 issue of The Straits Times,
\nSingapore's most widely circulated daily, then the West is
\nsquarely to blame for the current crisis in East Timor.<\/p>\n
According to Mahathir, the issue was handled poorly and much
\nmore could have been done to avoid the post-referendum turmoil
\nand the acute sense of abasement felt by many Indonesians.
\nResponding to how the matter could have been handled better, the
\noutspoken premier makes the argument that Indonesia should not
\nhave been pressured to make a decision about the future of East
\nTimor precisely when it was in the midst of making its own
\ntransition to democracy.<\/p>\n
Making this point, Mahathir says, "We have seen many countries
\ntrying to switch to liberal democracy making a mess of things. It
\nwas not the best time to make a decision."<\/p>\n
In this regard Mahathir got it partially right. The timing of
\nthe referendum for either autonomy or independence was rushed,
\npartly because those involved in the talks did not know if the
\noffer would survive President Habibie's current administration.
\nIn hindsight, it was imprudent to push ahead with the referendum
\non such a short timeline and in an environment that was far from
\nsecure. At the very least, the United Nations should have
\ninsisted on a stronger mandate in East Timor, one which obligated
\nJakarta's authorities to permit international peacekeepers on the
\nground prior to any referendum.<\/p>\n
However, Mahathir is wrong when he accuses the West of using
\nEast Timor as a way to break up Indonesia. Is there really some
\ndark Western conspiracy to divide and destroy Indonesia?<\/p>\n
I doubt it, but that is exactly what Malaysia's Mahathir would
\nhave us believe. Incredibly, after suggesting that foreign
\nelements were at work to break up Indonesia during the Soeharto
\nera, Mahathir contends, "And so when the currency crisis plunged
\nIndonesia into political and economic turmoil and Mr. Soeharto
\nwas overthrown, the West seized the opportunity to once again
\nbreak up Indonesia. East Timor presented the best possibility for
\nthis new attempt." Taking special aim at Australia's perceived
\noverzealous stance on East Timor, Dr. Mahathir stated that
\nAustralians would be the largest beneficiaries if Indonesia, as a
\nresult of independence in East Timor, began to disintegrate.<\/p>\n
These kinds of conspiracy theories obviously are not only
\nunfounded but irresponsible and inflammatory. In fact, the
\nWestern world has nothing to gain from a destabilized Indonesia.
\nOn the contrary, a strong, united and prosperous Indonesia will
\nmean greater stability in Asia and better prospects for the
\nsignificant western business interests in the country.<\/p>\n
On the matter of Australia, aside from stating Canberra's
\nambition to act as a U.S. deputy in policing Asia, a role
\nAustralia is ill-equipped to assume, Mahathir fails to show in
\nany concrete manner how Australians can benefit from supporting
\nEast Timorese independence.<\/p>\n
In fact, the Australian government stands to pay dearly for
\ntaking a lead role in pushing for the referendum and then sending
\nthe largest number of peacekeepers to East Timor. Consider the
\nfollowing: diplomatic relations between Australia and Indonesia
\nare at an all-time low; relations with other Asian neighbors,
\nparticularly within ASEAN, have been disrupted; and Canberra will
\nneed to bear the financial cost of maintaining thousands of
\npeacekeepers in East Timor as well as providing future aid to the
\nnewly independent state.<\/p>\n
In his remarks Mahathir acknowledges that the East Timorese,
\nif given a free choice, would likely prefer separation. However,
\nnever one to concede a point easily, Mahathir asserts, "But the
\nWest made sure that the Timorese voted for independence through
\novert propaganda, support, promises of protection and aid for an
\nindependent Timor."<\/p>\n
Mahathir even suggests that Western powers saw to it that Jose
\nRamos-Horta, the territory's de facto foreign minister, was
\nawarded the Nobel Peace Prize simply to further their own agendas
\nin East Timor. Without such intervention, the Malaysian premier
\nsays East Timor would have moved towards "eventual full
\nintegration," a claim that many observers familiar with East
\nTimor's unhappy marriage with Indonesia would dispute.<\/p>\n
As I listened to last Thursday's live broadcast of President
\nHabibie's accountability speech, it struck me that the long-
\nawaited referendum in East Timor could be one of the few
\nnoteworthy decisions for which he later receives recognition,
\ndespite the enormous destruction and dislocation that followed
\nthe vote. And he did it without alleging any Western conspiracy
\nto break up or humiliate Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In the end, if Indonesia's government and people can come to
\nterms with an independent East Timor, perhaps Mahathir, in his
\ncapacity as head of state of a close neighbor, should try to do
\nthe same.<\/p>\n
The writer is a business consultant based in Jakarta.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timor-another-western-conspiracy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }