Self-respect as a nation<\/p>\n
With reference to the post-ballot situation in East Timor in
\nthe past few days, Indonesia is like someone having one
\nmisfortune after the other. Indonesia has to feel both sad and
\nashamed for having to lose East Timor as part of its territory,
\nand at the same time it has to sustain strong rebuke from a
\nnumber of countries which consider Indonesia the only party
\nresponsible for the outbreak of a series of post-ballot riots in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
Habibie certainly has to account for the separation of East
\nTimor from Indonesia. Obviously, his decision on this matter,
\nwhich is very much linked with his personal political interest,
\nhas not been sufficiently considered. Very clearly he has made a
\nmistake now and has also failed as a President.<\/p>\n
As part of the international community, Indonesia must accept
\nthe outcome of the direct ballot, which has been held by virtue
\nof an international agreement. However, as East Timor has been
\nhit by greater chaos following the direct ballot, other
\ncountries, such as Australia, cannot just blame everything upon
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Australia itself has obviously assumed a double standard in
\nits attitude toward the two options offered by the Indonesian
\ngovernment. On the one hand Australia says it will take a neutral
\nstance regarding the option that the East Timorese are likely to
\ntake, but on the other it is largely to its great interest that
\nEast Timor is separated from Indonesia. As for the latter,
\nAustralia has involved itself in unfair practices through its
\nrepresentatives in the United Nations Mission in East Timor
\n(UNAMET). The chaos now taking place in East Timor has in a way
\nbeen allegedly triggered by unfair practices by a number of
\nUNAMET members unacceptable to one of the two conflicting groups.<\/p>\n
As a sovereign nation, we certainly cannot allow other
\ncountries to denigrate our self-respect as they wish. We need not
\nremind Australia, for example, of their ill-treatment of the
\nAborigines there. Regardless of which group wins the direct
\nballot, our hope is that the East Timorese may be able to start a
\nbetter life in the post-ballot period.<\/p>\n
EMELIUS MINSIN<\/p>\n
Pontianak, West Kalimantan<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/self-respect-as-a-nation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }