Be mature, not emotional

Be mature, not emotional

I am appalled to read the comments made by Mr. Wahyu Zulfikar
Karmiadji about the East Timor independence (Goodbye, and good
riddance!, Sept. 8, 1999). While I do share the anger and
frustrations about the financial and moral burdens that Indonesia
had to face with regard to this matter, I believe the comment he
made illustrated just how "unloving" we, Indonesians, have been
in the past 25 years.

As an "Indonesian-loving student" Mr. Wahyu is expected to
demonstrate maturity and the ability to write critically, not
emotionally! Perhaps, if he is willing to read around the subject
(i.e. about East Timor's struggle for independence), he may
discover why the East Timorese have resented us. As a loving
person, he should raise some moral questions with respect to
Indonesia's annexation of East Timor, instead of labeling the
former province as a "parasite".

Should not we ("Indonesia's loving citizens") be the first to
help our East Timorese brothers and sisters to build their
nation? Otherwise, why should we brag about being a loving
nation?

F. MIRZA K. PEDJU

Jakarta