The world blinks, but Indonesia loses<\/p>\n
Nationalism is cheap when it is without principles, writes
\nJeffrey Winters, an expert on Indonesia from Northwestern
\nUniversity Chicago, USA.<\/p>\n
CHICAGO, Illinois (JP): Countries lose credibility when they
\nmake threats and then cave in. This is what happened when major
\ncountries and the World Bank explicitly linked foreign aid to the
\ncontinuing conflict in the Timors.<\/p>\n
The demands were particularly loud and clear from the United
\nNations Security Council, the United States, and the President of
\nthe World Bank. The TNI-backed militia had to be disarmed and
\nwithdrawn.<\/p>\n
Those responsible for the murder of three unarmed civilian UN
\nhumanitarian workers had to be found, prosecuted, and punished.
\nAnd figures like Eurico Guterres had to be brought to justice for
\ncrimes against humanity.<\/p>\n
Even if the objectives of those pressuring Jakarta have not
\nalways been noble in the past, this time they were. They wanted
\nto safeguard the humanitarian workers, reduce the violence and
\ntensions on the border between East and West Timor, find a
\nsolution for the masses of displaced people in the camps, uphold
\ninternational human rights, and maybe even get Indonesia to
\nenforce its own domestic criminal and human rights laws.<\/p>\n
A key part of the threat was the upcoming meeting of the
\nConsultative Group on Indonesia and Indonesia's desperate need
\nfor an injection of US$4.8 billion.<\/p>\n
And what has happened? The Indonesian government dared the
\ninternational community to squeeze the country economically at a
\ntime when democracy is so fragile, and the foreigners blinked.<\/p>\n
The militia have not been disarmed or withdrawn, the Timor
\nborder remains tense, the displaced Timorese still rot in terror
\nin the camps, and Eurico Guterres is being hailed as a national
\nhero during his largely cosmetic detention.<\/p>\n
It must make some Indonesians proud to see their government
\nstand up to international pressures. There hasn't been much to be
\nproud of lately, and no one likes being told what to do.<\/p>\n
But pride and nationalism without principles is cheap. The
\ngovernment won this latest round of conflict with the
\ninternational community. But it is a hollow victory because more
\nwas lost than gained.<\/p>\n
Indonesia paid a higher price for the damage caused by the
\nSoeharto regime than anyone could have predicted. The political
\nculture became militarized, civil society was actively dismantled
\nand crushed, and the riches of the country were either wasted or
\nstolen, while generations to come will have to clean up the mess
\nand pay the bills.<\/p>\n
But worst of all, the basic principles of the people, the
\nsociety, and the culture were destroyed. Soeharto and his allies
\nbuilt a system that turned up into down and wrong into right.
\nAnything that was once clearly black and white became hopelessly
\ngray.<\/p>\n
Dumbing down the universities and forbiding critical thought,
\nexpression, philosophy, and even critical culture in the arts has
\ndamaged the ability of many Indonesians to think and act
\naccording to the most basic principles of justice that were so
\nimportant to the founding of the nation.<\/p>\n
This unmeasurable crime against the people ranks in the top
\nthree, together with the exploitative colonialism of the Dutch
\nand the horrible massacre of perhaps a million people when
\nSoeharto came to power.<\/p>\n
The case of Eurico Guterres illustrates how cheap nationalism
\nhas replaced genuine principles. But to understand why, first we
\nneed a brief review of history.<\/p>\n
The Soeharto regime brutally invaded East Timor and then tried
\nfor over two decades to colonize and exploit the territory. It
\nwas an act of aggression, it was against the principles of
\njustice Indonesia was founded upon, and it was a huge crime
\nagainst humanity.<\/p>\n
And although they should be ashamed to do so, many former
\nopposition leaders who now sit in high office aggressively
\nembrace the Soeharto regime's version of history regarding East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
Did Indonesia's allies look the other way and then offer
\ndiplomatic and military support? Yes, but it was still the
\nSoeharto regime that conducted the invasion and occupation, and
\nat least the international community finally did the right thing
\nand supported self determination. Better late than never.<\/p>\n
Did Indonesian soldiers die trying to take over and occupy
\nEast Timor, and did Jakarta spend development money there over
\nthe years? Yes and yes, but so what? It is like saying Dutch
\nsoldiers who died killing Indonesians to uphold colonialism were
\nheroes. And who would dare argue that Indonesians should really
\nbe grateful to the exploitative Dutch for building roads,
\nbridges, and ports?<\/p>\n
Returning to Guterres, obviously he is not the only person
\nresponsible for crimes against humanity in East Timor. If we go
\nback to 1975, there is a long list of figures both in Indonesia
\nand abroad who have blood on their hands.<\/p>\n
But the evidence that Guterres was directly involved in
\natrocities is strong. To take a position based on principles
\nmeans that although you cannot capture and put everyone
\nresponsible on trial, those who can be brought to justice should
\nbe.<\/p>\n
What does it mean when Indonesia's leaders praise Guterres as
\na national hero instead of condemning him as a murderer?<\/p>\n
The most generous interpretation one can draw is that they buy
\nthe twisted Soeharto version of the invasion and have been brain-
\nwashed into thinking East Timor was genuinely a part of the
\ncountry. And thus rape, torture, and murder is justified and even
\ncelebrated as long as it is for the Red and White national flag.<\/p>\n
An even less generous interpretation is that treating Guterres
\nlike a national hero is a convenient way to snub the
\ninternational community and use nationalist feelings to build
\npolitical strength.<\/p>\n
Both interpretations share one thing in common: there are no
\nbasic principles of truth and justice involved in either.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has used its size and instability as effective tools
\nto make the international community back down on principled
\ndemands and objectives. It is a sad commentary on the state of
\njustice in Indonesia when thugs are treated as heroes.<\/p>",
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