A misguided threat

A misguided threat

Here is why the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, according to the
chairman of the selection committee: It rewards those who "have
peace rooted in their hearts and who work to overcome the evil
principle in man".

Here is what the 1996 winner, East Timorese independence
leader Jose Ramos Horta, threatened this week: "More than 100
computer wizards are targeting the entire computer network of the
Indonesian government, Army, banking and finance institutions to
create chaos" if the result of an independence vote on August 30
is "unfair" -- that is, not to his liking.

Few would deny that Mr. Horta is a brave man, or that East
Timor has suffered through colonial neglect and military
occupation, none of it designed to benefit those who live there.

As an election to determine whether it gains autonomy or
independence draws near, violent militiamen with links to the
Indonesian Army have been attacking residents who want to break
free.

So it is no surprise that Mr. Horta is angry and frustrated.
He fears Indonesian officials will sabotage the vote and keep
control of East Timor by duplicitous means. But Mr. Horta's
threat is neither in keeping with the spirit of the prize he
values so highly, nor with an international effort to bring
preelection calm to a territory in desperate need of law and
order. Rather, it could encourage those who oppose the vote by
force.

In addition, the appeal to computer hackers is yet another
example of using extralegal means whenever one's own version of
justice seems at risk. Mr. Horta's motives are understandable,
but his call to action is not among the reasons why peace prizes
are awarded.

-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong