Investigating past events crucial<\/p>\n
While it requires a great deal of courage for Indonesia to
\nreinvestigate the controversial events that occurred under former
\npresident Soeharto, it is an essential process in providing a
\nsolid basis for the development of democracy and society in
\nIndonesia. It is heartening to see that those who are supportive
\nof such moves include Indonesian political observers, historians
\nand President Abdurrahman Wahid himself.<\/p>\n
However, the 1965 overthrow of Sukarno and the subsequent
\nmassacre will be a particularly thorny issue to tackle, not least
\nbecause it was the New Order's distorted version that provided
\nSoeharto's government with legitimacy and because there is now
\nmuch evidence to show that the United States was heavily involved
\nin the murderous affairs. Given Indonesia's great need for
\nforeign investment and assistance at this present time, it will
\nbe tempting for the Indonesian government to yield to U.S.
\npressure not to delve into the United State's complicity in these
\nevents.<\/p>\n
There are, however, direct parallels between the U.S. support
\nof Soeharto's Army faction in the 1960s and the Indonesian
\nmilitary's support of the pro-Jakarta militias in East Timor in
\n1999. In the 1960s, the U.S. was Soeharto's patron, providing,
\ninter alia, money, arms training and even hit lists, in the same
\nway elements within the Indonesian Military seem to have done for
\npro-Jakarta militias in East Timor last year. The resulting death
\ntoll in Indonesia in the 1960s was between 500,000 and one
\nmillion people and, in the case of East Timor in 1999, at least
\n600.<\/p>\n
It would send an empowering, edifying and galvanizing message
\nto the people of \"developing\" countries if both these heinous
\nseries of crimes against humanity were thoroughly investigated
\nwith equal zeal. It would also help to create a healthier and
\nmore balanced world view that, in turn, would lead to much needed
\nfurther growth in the level of understanding and respect by
\n\"developed\" countries for the \"developing\" world.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, the outspoken and courageous Mary Robinson, the UN
\nCommissioner for Human Rights, is just the person to ensure
\ninternational justice will be meted out fairly and that no
\ncountry, however powerful, will be granted special privileges and
\nremain above the law.<\/p>\n
FRANK RICHARDSON<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/investigating-past-events-crucial-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }