Mandela's puzzling E. Timor solution<\/p>\n
President Mandela's state visit to Indonesia in early August
\nwas, of all the state visits made to this country so far, rather
\nunusual.<\/p>\n
During his visit Mandela had a meeting, arranged at his
\nrequest, with Xanana Gusmao who is serving a 20 year jail term.
\nGusmao was imprisoned for forcibly resisting East Timor's
\nintegration with Indonesia and leading an outlawed, armed group
\nin that province.<\/p>\n
Soon after the completion of his Asian visit, Mandela sent a
\nletter from South Africa to President Soeharto requesting
\nXanana's release.<\/p>\n
The request was apparently based on his belief that Xanana's
\nrelease would be instrumental in helping the tripartite dialogue
\non East Timor, under the auspices of the UN secretary-general, to
\nfind a solution to the East Timor problem.<\/p>\n
One could validly wonder what kind of solution Mandela has in
\nmind. What would be the relation between Xanana's release from
\nprison on the one hand, and a solution to the East Timor problem,
\non the other?<\/p>\n
We seem to be facing a highly mathematics puzzle posed by
\nMandela.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the answer to the above question, one could
\ncertainly infer that, in Mandela's view, Xanana Gusmao is not a
\ncriminal convict but a political prisoner jailed for his
\npolitical convictions.<\/p>\n
Why did president Mandela, in the first place, request
\nXanana's release? Why does he attach so much importance to Xanana
\nand his release? Was the request made with his own initiative or
\nat a third party's prodding?<\/p>\n
First of all, there seems to be a direct relation between
\nMandela's request and Ramos Horta's selection as a Nobel Prize
\nlaureate for peace (along with Bishop Belo) in November last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The conferment of the award to Ramos Horta was, in my opinion,
\na slap in our face (almost literally). We cannot, however, blame
\nthe remote demigods, the distinguished members of the Nobel Prize
\nBoard, for not having had the time to listen to us.<\/p>\n
President Mandela is probably considered by many to be the
\nright person to make such a request for Xanana's release. He is
\nthe living symbol of non-violent resistance to a system of
\ninjustice and oppression and racial arrogance.<\/p>\n
He emerged victorious without the slightest trace of vengeance
\nand animosity toward the white supremacists, those who
\nincarcerated him for 27 years. And South Africa is the most
\neconomically advanced country in the region, which can hopefully
\nact as a \"locomotive\" in the region's economies.<\/p>\n
Yet, South Africa under a resistant Mandela has opted for
\nmembership in the club of developing countries (NAM). South
\nAfrica is, therefore, bound to be a member if not the natural
\nleader of black African countries, at least during Mandela's
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
Hence, Mandela's request for Xanana's release probably also
\nconveys the voice of 40-odd black African countries.<\/p>\n
The notion widely held among black African political elites on
\nEast Timor anti-integration groups has probably been based on
\nerroneous analysis and factitious reports.<\/p>\n
Black African leaders, because of their apparently inborn
\nsympathy and solidarity with any groups calling themselves
\nnational liberation movements, should be given more time to hear
\nthe other side.<\/p>\n
SOEGIO SOSROSOEMARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mandelas-puzzling-e-timor-solution-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }