Military must be neutral for peace solution in E. Timor<\/p>\n
Recent bloody clashes in East Timor have again jolted the
\nnation, already shaken by a seemingly endless spate of religious
\nand ethnic conflicts. Dr. Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Jesuit priest
\nwho teaches social philosophy at Driyarkara School of Philosophy
\nand the University of Indonesia, thinks the military should take
\na neutral stance in East Timor.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Things are escalating in East Timor after months
\nof increased activity by prointegration militia in the area near
\nthe border with West Timor. Newspapers reported that two people
\nwere killed allegedly by military-backed militia in Liquica
\nregency on Monday, April 6.<\/p>\n
The next day, again according to newspaper and radio reports,
\nthe militia stepped up their activities in Liquica. What happened
\nhas not yet been independently established. It seems that some
\npeople fled into the compound of the local church. Outside the
\ncompound were members of the prointegration militia. Then there
\nwere shots. It also was reported that during the whole episode
\nABRI soldiers stood behind the militia looking on. I wonder
\nwhether they were actually grinning. Anyway, there were
\nconflicting reports about the incident. The military said five
\npeople were killed. Bishop Belo said at least 25 died.<\/p>\n
But the military says many things. In January, after President
\nHabibie announced his intention to allow the people of East Timor
\nchoose between wide-ranging autonomy or independence, rumors
\ncirculated the military were arming the prointegration militia.
\nThis was denied by Armed Forces leadership. Now, two months
\nlater, the military do not even bother to deny the allegation.<\/p>\n
On April 17, again under the protection of the military, the
\nprointegrationists took over Dili. They rampaged unchecked
\nthrough the city. One of the targets was the house of Manuel
\nCarrascalao, brother of former governor Mario Carrascalao,
\nkilling a number of people sheltering in the house, including
\nCarrascalao's son. When Carrascalao -- who escaped and took
\nrefuge at Bishop Belo's residence -- asked the military for
\nprotection, they said they could do nothing. The next day the
\nmilitia continued their cleansing of proindependence East
\nTimorese.<\/p>\n
Prointegration militia alleged proindependence forces attacked
\nfirst. But nobody seems to have noticed that attack. Domestic and
\nforeign journalists were not allowed to cover the violence.<\/p>\n
This is indeed an extraordinary development. The military,
\nwhose brutal 23-year presence in the province prevented the East
\nTimorese from enjoying a normal life, now say they cannot do a
\nthing. In fact, they are doing more than one thing; they are
\nprotecting acts of barbarism, plunder and murder. It is
\nincomprehensible. It is nothing less than the open sabotage of
\nthe policies of President Habibie. The President had the bravery
\nto break the taboo and say East Timor was not an integral part of
\nIndonesia. He did it not only out of respect for the East
\nTimorese themselves, but also because of a realistic assessment
\nof Indonesia's national interests. The interesting thing was that
\nHabibie's decision did not stir any noticeable opposition from
\nIndonesia's mass organizations or opposition leaders (with the
\nnoticeable exception of Megawati Soekarnoputri). The military, of
\ncourse, kept silent.<\/p>\n
And now, by providing an umbrella of protection under which
\nthe militia are clearing out, by force if necessary, the
\nproindependence party, the military are openly sabotaging
\nIndonesia's sincere endeavor to end one of the most deplorable
\nand controversial chapters in the history of the republic. At the
\nsame time, the military are stealing from the East Timorese their
\nright to declare freely their wishes for their future.<\/p>\n
But why are they doing it? Are they merely unable to, for
\nonce, put national interests before their own? Are they
\ndisappointed at finally having to let the East Timorese people
\ndecide for themselves?<\/p>\n
Or is it something more sinister? A covert revolt by rogue
\nelements against the military leadership in Jakarta? A kind of
\ndress rehearsal for sabotaging the upcoming general election
\nacross Indonesia? Or are we facing insubordination against the
\ncivilian President, preparing the ground for another \"March 11\",
\nas in 1966 when the military took over from president Sukarno?<\/p>\n
These are serious questions and they deserve an answer. And no
\nanswer will suffice other than the effective neutralization of
\nthe prointegration militia. Because one thing should be
\ncompletely clear: Indonesia has a vital interest in positively
\nending the \"problem of East Timor\". It is a question of self-
\nesteem -- we do not want to leave the place in a mess. It is also
\na question of our international standing. And it is a question of
\nsober self-interest: We ourselves lose by having an autonomous
\nprovince or an independent neighbor engulfed in civil war. The
\nrelationship between Indonesia and East Timor is not one of
\n\"lose-win\", but of \"lose-lose or win-win\". If East Timor ends up
\nin chaos, it is bad for us, while if the province enjoys peace,
\ndemocracy and prosperity, we win.<\/p>\n
And of course, do we really have the heart to again bring
\nsuffering, despair and death to our tormented neighbors?<\/p>\n
There is still time to end the craziness and stop the
\nsituation from getting out of hand. A peaceful solution is still
\npossible. But only if the military do the honest thing and, in
\nscrupulous neutrality, stop all violence, no matter who commits
\nit. Do it for the sake of our country.<\/p>",
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