After the ballot

Though it may sound rather absurd to some people given the momentousness of the event, not many Indonesians -- possibly not even President B.J. Habibie who set the process in motion -- may be aware of the full ramifications of Monday's UN-supervised self-determination ballot in East Timor.

Ever since 1976, Jakarta has regarded the former Portuguese colony as its 27th province, in defiance of the United Nations and most of the rest of the world, which have consistently regarded the territory as a non-self-governing territory under Lisbon's jurisdiction.

During those 23 years, Jakarta has administered the half- island, often with an iron fist as resistance from proindependence fighters and activists continued to smolder. During that span, a bureaucracy controlled by Jakarta has taken hold and various interests -- social, commercial as well as political -- have grown roots.

Little wonder that so many protests and charges of partiality in favor of the proindependence camp have been hurled at the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) by pro-Indonesia parties -- not to mention the violence that preceded the ballot. After all, those pro-Indonesia interest groups have a good deal to lose if the vote should turn out in favor of independence.

But while such protests and charges of partiality are understandable enough coming from those directly involved in the balloting in East Timor on Monday, similar charges voiced by critics in Jakarta -- especially when coming from government officials -- may give some reason for apprehension since they could indicate a sense of official dissatisfaction on the part of authorities in Jakarta over the course of developments in East Timor.

In this context, foreign minister Ali Alatas' observation that the ballot proceeded smoothly despite outbreaks of violence here and there may be taken as a welcome indication that the Jakarta administration is ready to accept whatever the outcome of Monday's ballot. For this, the Indonesian authorities, civilian as well as military, deserve to be commended for the way in which they handled the final phases of the process of the ballot. Many expected worse, given earlier charges of Indonesian military personnel giving covert support to pro-Indonesian militias operating in East Timor.

At this point, though, a warning must be sounded. Reports of pro-Indonesian militia blocking land and air passages into and out of East Timor, if true, could yet upset the final phases of a procedure designed to bring the peace and well-being the people of East Timor so well deserve. Responsibility for peace and order having been entrusted to Jakarta, it is the duty of the Indonesian security officials to ensure that all their good work is not obliterated by people taking the law into their own hands.

Analysts have warned that Monday's ballot, whatever its result, may not necessarily mean the liberation of the people of East Timor from the strife and violence that have plagued them for more than two decades. As yet, nobody knows for certain what the people's choice in East Timor is. But whatever that choice -- whether autonomy within Indonesia or full independence -- we hope Indonesia can prove to be truly helpful in guaranteeing a peaceful and orderly transition to a better East Timor.

The moment of truth is near and there is no turning back. Should East Timor opt for independence, Indonesia should, for once, be able to accept reality and bow out with grace and dignity.