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