The East Timor problem<\/p>\n
Whatever the circumstances that led up to it, the reported
\ndeath of Orlando Marcelino, a 35-year-old East Timorese farmer,
\nand the wounding of five other people in a shooting incident in
\nBaucau yesterday is yet another damaging addition to the record
\nof Indonesia's presence in the former Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
As news reports had it, this latest incident occurred in the
\nearly afternoon yesterday, just minutes after three European
\nUnion (EU) ambassadors who are in the province on a fact finding
\nvisit arrived at Baucau Cathedral to hold talks with local church
\nleader Bishop Basilio Do Nascimento.<\/p>\n
A crowd numbering in the hundreds, which had been milling
\naround in front of the cathedral shouting slogans demanding self-
\ndetermination for the province, surged forward to welcome the two
\ncars carrying the ambassadors when they arrived. It was at this
\nmoment, apparently, that the crowd became aware of a third car
\ncarrying Indonesian intelligence officers, which was following at
\nthe rear of the ambassadors' motorcade.<\/p>\n
Some of the crowd began to beat on the car's windows and roof
\nwhile others pelted it with stones. Apparently fearing for his
\nsafety, one of the intelligence officers inside the car fired his
\npistol into the crowd. Another officer fired tear gas into the
\nmidst of the mob. Witnesses said yet another officer fired into
\nthe crowd with an automatic weapon.<\/p>\n
Orlando is the second person to have been killed since the EU
\nambassadors arrived in East Timor. On Saturday, the first day of
\nthe ambassadors' four-day visit, another East Timorese man was
\nfatally shot, reportedly when troops were trying to break up a
\nfight between demonstrators demanding self-determination and
\nthose who support integration with Indonesia. The deaths are
\nironic because the European Union fact-finding delegation is in
\nEast Timor to try to help find a peaceful solution to the
\nproblems from which the province is suffering.<\/p>\n
Although it is difficult, and perhaps unfair, to judge the
\nactions of the Indonesian intelligence officers in question on
\nthe basis of the sketchy information so far available, one might
\nask whether the officers realize the grave impact which this and
\nsimilar incidents will have if they continue to occur in East
\nTimor. With the benefit of hindsight, one could also question the
\nwisdom of allowing security officials to escort the visiting
\nambassadors in such a conspicuous manner, considering the
\nsentiments that exist in the territory.<\/p>\n
It is indeed unfortunate that almost a quarter of a century
\nafter the province's integration into Indonesia, East Timor
\ncontinues to be a thorn in the country's side. One of the major
\nfactors thought to have contributed to this situation is the
\nfrequent use of excessive force on the province's inhabitants. If
\nsubstantial progress is to be made toward settling the problem,
\nthe belief that force and coercion are effective means by which
\nto do so must be abandoned once and for all.<\/p>\n
For Indonesia, the best solution, obviously, is for the East
\nTimorese to accept, freely and without coercion, President
\nHabibie's offer of special status for the province. However, if
\nthat offer is to be effective much work has to be done to improve
\nsocial, humanitarian and local political conditions in East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
Ultimately a free referendum -- and a wholehearted acceptance
\nby Indonesia of whatever results that may bring -- could prove to
\nbe the best and most honorable way to settle the problem for
\ngood.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-east-timor-problem-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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