Tension over East Timor<\/p>\n
Even in the most untroubled of times, relations between
\nIndonesia and Australia have always been prone to ups and downs.
\nRecurrent standoffs and tensions, one might say, are practically
\nthe rule that characterize relations between the two big
\nneighbors. This is to be expected, and to a certain extent
\nacceptable, given the different cultural and historical
\nbackgrounds of the two nations.<\/p>\n
The current conflagration in East Timor, however, has brought
\nthis discord to a point where an absence of wisdom or restraint
\ncould result in a more total and lasting devastation of whatever
\naccord exists between Indonesia and Australia. There are possible
\ndisastrous consequences, not only for the two countries involved,
\nbut also for the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific regions.<\/p>\n
Over the past few days, protesters in several Australian
\ncities have besieged Indonesian diplomatic missions, shouting
\nslogans and burning Indonesian flags to protest Indonesia's
\nhandling of East Timor. The protesters say there is a conspiracy
\nbetween elements of the Indonesian military and police and armed
\npro-Jakarta militias in East Timor to prevent the East Timorese
\nfrom realizing the independence for which they overwhelmingly
\nvoted for on Aug. 30.<\/p>\n
In retaliation, Indonesian youths besieged the Australian
\nEmbassy in Jakarta and Australian consulates in other cities to
\nprotest what they called undue Australian (and United Nations)
\ninterference in this country's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
Instead of subsiding, protests on both sides appear to be
\nescalating as the Timor crisis continues to drag on unresolved,
\ndespite promises from the authorities in Jakarta to stop the
\nchaos in East Timor. As many as 20,000 to 25,000 people took to
\nthe streets on Friday in the Australian city of Melbourne to
\nprotest the ongoing rampage and killings in the former Portuguese
\ncolony.<\/p>\n
In an act that is certain to be more damaging to Indonesia,
\nthe Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) banned its members
\nfrom processing Indonesian crude oil, providing postal and
\ntelephone services to the Indonesian Embassy and consulates
\nthroughout Australia and servicing air freight and passenger
\nflights between Indonesia and Australia. Union members are even
\nbarred from collecting the garbage from Indonesian missions.<\/p>\n
More likely to bring serious and lasting damage to relations
\nbetween Jakarta and Canberra, however, is Australia's apparent
\nimpatience to dispatch a peacekeeping force to East Timor. Such a
\nmove is trying to be made with the consent of Jakarta, but, as it
\nis increasingly beginning to look like, if necessary without such
\nconsent. Australia's prime minister, John Howard, who earlier
\nstated his country's willingness to lead such a force for duty in
\nEast Timor, is pressuring others to support a peacekeeping force
\nunder the UN flag. Some 2,000 Australian troops are reported to
\nhave already been put on alert for possible shipment from Darwin
\nshould the need arise.<\/p>\n
Obviously, such audacity is being viewed with great distaste
\nin Jakarta. There is no denying, however, that there is every
\nreason for the world -- Australians included -- to be gravely
\nconcerned about what is happening in East Timor. Harrowing tales
\nare being told by survivors of the carnage who fled the
\nterritory, many of whom are compelled to live in deplorable
\nconditions in camps in West Timor. After more than a week of
\nunbridled rampaging by militias, the city of Dili is largely in
\nsmoking ruins. An untold number of people have been killed and
\nfamilies have been torn apart.<\/p>\n
Even as late as yesterday -- two days after martial law was
\ndeclared, and the day the UN ultimatum for the restoration of
\npeace was supposed to have expired -- militias were reported to
\nhave broken into the UN compound in Dili, smashing cars and
\nlooting possessions.<\/p>\n
Even so, the wisdom of promptly sending UN peacekeepers to
\nEast Timor is questionable. A more judgmatic view might be to
\ncontinue to pressure Jakarta to agree to a peacekeeping force,
\nbut not so much as to destabilize the government in Jakarta.
\nUnder the circumstances there is considerable wisdom in the words
\nof Philippine presidential spokesman Fernando Barican: \"We are
\nvery concerned. We are doing what we can, but we will do this in
\ncooperation with Indonesia. It is easier to work with the
\nIndonesian government and the military rather than to work
\nagainst them.\"<\/p>\n
East Timor deserves the gravest attention. The handling of the
\nEast Timor problem, therefore, calls for the greatest wisdom on
\nthe part of all those concerned. For Indonesia, the message is
\nclear: End the violence immediately. Give the people of East
\nTimor their right to independence, as they were promised by the
\nPresident of Indonesia. In the final analysis it would be best
\nfor everyone to ensure that East Timor can grow into a peaceful,
\npeace-loving and prosperous country.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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