'Bloodshed possible' over referendum

By Putu Wirata

DENPASAR (JP): Over the short course of his new administration, President B.J. Habibie and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas have made various efforts to handle the East Timor question.

The government has proposed wideranging autonomy for the former Portuguese colony in a bid to find acceptable solutions to the issue of sovereignty. It recently pulled out 400 troops from the military operations area, and will withdraw even more in its campaign to appease concern of human rights violations in the territory.

Calls for even more drastic measures, such as holding a referendum, still abound. Proponents of such a move include jailed separatist leader Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, but even Moslem leader Amien Rais has supported the suggestion.

For the government, however, a referendum was never an option. The Jakarta Post recently interviewed Maj. Gen. Adam R. Damiri, the chief of the Udayana Regional Military Command overseeing Bali, East Timor, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara, on the issue and others regarding East Timor.

Question: What is the comparative strength of those who demand referendum, and those who are against it?

Answer: We never counted the percentage. The anti-integration movements are usually initiated by youths and students who enjoy the support of the diplomatic front of GPK (Security Disturbance Group). Their number is small, but because of their intensity and (ability) to make use of various moments -- for instance the July 17 commemoration (of East Timor's integration), they can mobilize many to intimidate newcomers. So they appear to have many supporters.

Actually, the prointegration group is much larger and has access to even the remotest areas. They believe the issue of (the validity of East Timor's) integration (into Indonesia in 1976) is finished and is the only option for them to promote their welfare. For them, what should be done now is not questioning the integration, but what to do for its advancement.

Q: Given the increasingly serious polemics between the two camps, do you think there could be more serious conflicts?

A: If the two camps have friction, there could be bloodshed. Well, then, what we have to do is find ways to help the two groups to live side by side in peace. Please don't think that the best way to solve the East Timor question is through a referendum.

Q: The government always says the prointegration group is bigger, and has farther outreach. They should be able to win in a referendum, then. So why be afraid of it?

A: They worry that a referendum may open old wounds. Before the integration, many political parties in East Timor were embroiled in conflicts.

We should learn from other countries, which were previously divided but later reunited without referendum, for instance Germany.

Q: What has the government been doing to bring the two camps together?

A: We recently held a dialog (involving the two camps) in Baucau. It was attended by the governor (Abilio Jose Osorio Soares), the Dili bishop (Filipe Ximenes Belo), intellectuals, former regents and anti-integration groups such as the Movement for East Timorese Union and Reconciliation, students and others.

That was the first opportunity for the prointegration and anti-integration groups to meet. It proceeded peacefully and in a spirit of brotherhood.

Q: What did you notice from the meeting?

A: It was a closed meeting. Thoughts that were expressed there were treated as input to improve East Timor. What's clear was both groups were happy, feeling together and friendly toward each other. We will invite those groups for another meeting in Denpasar.

Q: The government has offered special autonomy for East Timor. Security-wise, what would the format be?

A: I believe the idea for special autonomy is a step toward democratization. It would be able to accommodate the aspirations of the anti-integration groups so the potential to cause unrest could be defused.

However, the concept was proposed by the central (government) -- what we did was give input. Under the scheme, we will give greater say to the provincial administration to execute and manage development programs which are suitable for the East Timorese, within the frame of the united Republic of Indonesia.