Don't surrender East Timor

Don't surrender East Timor

From Merdeka

I felt saddened and angered upon hearing the foreign minister's explanation of the East Timor issue on Jan. 27. It was shocking, and in my opinion even amoral, to put forward the option of getting rid of East Timor.

It is taboo even to think about this alternative. By expressing the idea "What is the use of maintaining East Timor?" it is clear that our present government (along with its institutions) is extremely ineffective, not only on a national level but also internationally.

We should remember that East Timor is part of the Republic of Indonesia and its integration process is legal according to international law. The East Timor problem at the moment is smaller in magnitude than the Irian Jaya issue. All my respect goes to Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, who defended Irian Jaya tenaciously, facing the risk of war.

My feeling that the statement is "amoral" comes from the fact that the statement has betrayed the heroes who have fallen in East Timor. It makes me think that if East Timor is surrendered, it will start the disintegration of Indonesia Raya, the abandonment of Aceh, Irian Jaya, Maluku, Sulawesi. The blood of the nation's heroes will be wasted.

We should not see things from a financial angle only. We must use more important criteria, and consider national honor. I strongly hope that the government will immediately withdraw the suggestion and apologize to all the Indonesian people.

MICHAEL TANOK

Jakarta