East Timor's future
East Timor's future
After months of talk and speculation, Indonesia finally has
found itself faced with the tangible prospect of granting the
former Portuguese colony of East Timor either autonomy within the
Indonesian republic or independence. This stage, after what many
East Timorese must have felt was an agonizingly long period, was
reached with the signing on Wednesday in New York of a United
Nations-brokered agreement by the foreign ministers of Indonesia
and Portugal.
Undeniably, the signing of the agreement on Wednesday was an
achievement for which not only Indonesia and Portugal, but also
the United Nations deserve to be commended. After all, if
successfully implemented, the agreement could mark the end not
only of a long period of strife and bloodshed in the province,
but also of a 24-year dispute which has affected Indonesia's
standing in the international community.
Under the terms of the agreement, a poll will be held on
August 8 in which the East Timorese will decide whether they want
to remain a part of Indonesia or become an independent nation.
Under the first option, East Timor would be given wide-ranging
autonomy in matters of internal administration, including joint
undertakings in oil exploration. However, defense and security
and foreign and financial affairs would remain in the hands of
the central government in Jakarta.
That, in a nutshell, is what the accord reached in New York
entails. The arrangement looks sensible enough. The future of
East Timor will be entirely up to the East Timorese to decide.
Opting to remain a part of Indonesia would put such burdens as
maintaining security and foreign relations on Jakarta's
shoulders, while the territory would be assured of sufficient
internal revenue under the terms of the agreement.
On the other hand, should the majority of the population opt
for independence, all they have to do is reject the autonomy
offer, which would automatically lead to East Timor's separation
from Indonesia and, presumably, full independence after a brief
period of trusteeship under the UN.
While Jakarta certainly is to be commended for finally daring
to accept the unavoidable, the crucial process of making the poll
a reality will place a heavy burden on the shoulders of
Indonesia. Although the accord provides for a 1,000-strong UN
presence in East Timor prior to the vote, a security agreement
attached to the accord stipulates the responsibility for ensuring
an environment "devoid of violence or other forms of
intimidation" exists in East Timor prior to and during the vote
rests with Indonesian authorities. Therefore, "the absolute
neutrality of the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) and the
Indonesian police is essential in this regard".
Indonesian authorities also will have the responsibility of
disarming the thousands of pro-Indonesian militia members who are
suspected of being backed by the Indonesian military. These bands
of armed men have in past weeks attacked and intimidated
proindependence activists in Dili and elsewhere in East Timor.
Whether the TNI and the Indonesian police are capable, or even
willing, to carry out the task of disarming the militia is
unclear. After all, Indonesian soldiers and police have given
their lives for the cause of "integrating" East Timor into
Indonesia.
It is also no secret many politicians are unhappy with
President Habibie's surprise offer of independence if the East
Timorese reject the government's autonomy offer. Many Indonesians
also continue to suspect some hidden motive behind the
President's offer. Others believe he should not have made such a
far-reaching policy considering he is seen as a mere caretaker
President before an administration with more legitimacy can be
elected. Certainly not every Indonesian or East Timorese welcomes
the idea of independence for the former Portuguese colony.
Whatever the case, there is now no turning back for Indonesia.
The best it can do is carry out the duties it has accepted with
honor and dignity, and hope its claims of East Timorese loyalty
to Indonesia will be proven correct in a fair and honest ballot.