UNAMET take sides<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
The East Timor community is awaiting the referendum on Aug. 30
\nwith trepidation. The rather complex registration process is
\ntaking place from July 16 to Aug. 4. As a UN institution playing
\na major role in arranging the referendum, the UN Mission in East
\nTimor (UNAMET) has increasingly shown that it takes sides in
\nfavor of the proindependence group. This can be seen from the
\ngreat number of its personnel recruited from the proindependence
\ngroup, including those for registration.<\/p>\n
In Bobonaro, Maliana, the UNAMET staff openly practiced
\ndiscrimination in the registration process. The prointegration
\ncommunity met with difficulties while the proindependence group
\nwho did not have adequate documentation were allowed to register.
\nIt is even more tragic that the UNAMET staff from Australia
\nwillfully fly the Australian flag. In Liquica, the red and white
\nflag was torn down by the proindependence group.<\/p>\n
UNAMET's bias has strengthened the suspicion that it has been
\nused by foreign sides (Australia) to conform to the latter's
\npolitical vision. It is understandable because Australia has its
\nown interest in East Timor, especially in the context of the huge
\nTimor Gap project. The bias among foreigners acting through
\nUNAMET needs watching, especially on the day of the referendum.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government must continue its monitoring of the
\nsituation, because the proindependence group also criticizes and
\nintimidates the prointegration group, who are campaigning in
\nfavor of extended autonomy. Besides, the proindependence group is
\naccusing the Indonesian military (TNI) of being behind the
\nprointegration group.<\/p>\n
As a citizen of East Timor who wishes to see the province to
\nremain part of Indonesia, I think UNAMET's attitude is strongly
\ndetrimental to us. The RI government should promptly eliminate
\nUNAMET's influence in order that the referendum will take place
\nsafely.<\/p>\n
FLORENCA DOS SANTOS<\/p>\n
Dili, East Timor<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unamet-take-sides-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }