United Nations peacekeeping force<\/p>\n
East Timor is descending toward despair. General Wiranto and
\nMinister Ali Alatas insist that every day, in every way, things
\nare getting better and better. The rest of the
\nworld knows better; Why does President Habibie delay?
\nWho is giving Mr. Habibie such shortsighted advice and
\ndiscouraging him from inviting the UN troops to safeguard the
\npeople of East Timor from the mutinous militias and regular
\ntroops?<\/p>\n
Where have the critics been since last January when the
\nreferendum decision was made? Not offering alternatives, that
\nmuch we know. Why do so many political leaders now insist on
\nraising the flag of national pride on this particular issue? That
\nadvice is knee-jerk nationalism, not patriotism. The UN
\npeacekeeping forces do not come as an invading army. This is not
\nan army from an enemy nation; indeed it is not from any sovereign
\nnation as such. Sovereignty should not even be an issue in the
\ndebate. Military discipline, not sovereignty, is the issue.<\/p>\n
Inviting the UN forces would not show weakness, it would show
\nstrength. It would show that President Habibie is not dominated
\nby his military advisors -- who have a vested interest in
\nretaining control and saving face. It would show the strength of
\nIndonesia's civil authorities, a prerequisite for economic
\nrecovery now that the weakness of the military hierarchy is so
\nclear. It would show this regime's independence from the opinions
\nof Minister Ali Alatas, with his overriding allegiance to
\nSoeharto and the status quo. It would show President Habibie's
\nwillingness to put the welfare of a regional community above
\npersonal political interests.<\/p>\n
If, as some have speculated, President Habibie yielded to the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) on the issue of martial law in exchange
\nfor electoral support in November, he has precious little time
\nleft to redeem this shameful act by replacing the TNI with UN
\ntroops in East Timor immediately. The only ones losing face by
\ninviting UN assistance are the already weakened military leaders.
\nNo, any shame to Indonesia comes not from requesting UN
\npeacekeepers, but from tolerating the torture and murders one
\nminute longer. Does President Habibie really want to sacrifice
\n800,000 East Timorese and Indonesia's good name in the
\ninternational community, just to appease the generals?<\/p>\n
DONNA K. WOODWARD<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/united-nations-peacekeeping-force-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }