East Timor and development<\/p>\n
I feel privileged to work and live in Indonesia and during my
\nstay so far (more than one and a half years) I have tried hard to
\nimprove my knowledge of Indonesia's history, culture and current
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
It is against this background that watching Ramos Horta being
\ninterviewed by CNN television following his recent address to the
\nHong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club, I found myself becoming
\ndisappointed and feeling a little bewildered by his remarks.<\/p>\n
Ramos Horta indicated in the interview that the people of East
\nTimor were oppressed, poor, had few job opportunities, no
\nprospects and no longer had the right to self determination. Is
\nthis really correct?<\/p>\n
Much of what he said appeared biased and lacking in substance.
\nCNN did not ask him pertinent questions such as: How many
\nmillions of dollars of investment have the Indonesian authorities
\npumped into East Timor? How many new roads have been constructed?
\nHow many new hospitals, schools and other public facilities have
\nbeen built? How many new jobs have been created through
\ndevelopment in the region? Are the people now much less poor than
\nthey were 20 years ago?<\/p>\n
Sadly, too few people outside Indonesia seem to know that
\nIndonesia has done far more for the people of East Timor in the
\npast 20 years than Portugal did in more than 200 years.<\/p>\n
Although members of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and
\nDiplomatic Corps have tried to present a more balanced view, the
\ntime has come to be more vocal. Unfortunately the Nobel Peace
\nPrize gives Ramos Horta instant credibility and if he chooses not
\nto give a balanced view as in the CNN interview, Indonesia will
\nnot win any friends. Surely now the best form of defense is
\nattack but in a rational, non emotional and informative way. Just
\nlook at the facts concerning Indonesia's commitment to develop
\nEast Timor for the common good of the people. The facts will
\nspeak for themselves and give those people living outside
\nIndonesia a better understanding of the issues.<\/p>\n
TONY JENNINGS<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-and-development-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }