East Timor under siege<\/p>\n
Indonesia's military and millions of nationalists deeply
\nresent the offer of independence (to East Timor) and worry that
\nit could encourage separatist movements in other regions. What
\nEast Timor is suffering is not chaos but an organized rampage by
\nthe militias, as some of the more that 15,000 Indonesian troops
\nthere stand by and even participate. The violence is very likely
\nbeing coordinated by military men in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's government insists that it can solve the problem
\nwithout international help and has declared martial law. But
\nIndonesia's military is the problem, not the solution.<\/p>\n
Getting Jakarta's consent for an international peacekeeping
\nforce will require strong and immediate pressure, especially from
\nthe United States, Australia -- which has strong ties to
\nIndonesia's military -- and Japan, a large donor of economic aid.<\/p>\n
All three nations should announce that they are cutting off
\nall military aid and sales. They, and the international banks,
\nshould also stop all but humanitarian loans and economic aid.
\nAmerica should give the peacekeeping mission a strong
\nendorsement. An international force is clearly the last resort,
\nto be tried only if Mr. Habibie and Indonesia's military leader,
\nGeneral Wiranto, will not stop the violence.<\/p>\n
But a united, powerful threat from abroad is likely needed to
\npersuade them to end the killings.<\/p>\n
-- The New York Times<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-under-siege-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }