Freedom at midnight

At the stroke of midnight on Monday, May 20, a new nation will be born on Indonesia's eastern border on the island of Timor. The Democratic Republic of Timor Lorosae will then join the free nations of the world. Timor Lorosae's proclamation of independence on Monday caps a long history of unrest and resistance, first against the Portuguese who held it as a colony for more than 450 years and later against Indonesia, which controlled the territory for some 24 years as its 27th province.

According to plan, a grand mass led by Nobel Prize winning Roman Catholic Bishop Mgr. Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo of Dili and Baucau Bishop Mgr. Basilio do Nascimento will usher in the official program of festivities marking Timor Lorosae's independence in the early evening, followed by a program of dances and other festivities.

But while Monday will be a day of joyous celebration in Timor Lorosae, a different mood prevails among sections of the Indonesian population here at home. For those Indonesians, especially among the military, who have, for more than two decades fought to uphold this country's sovereignty and control over East Timor there is an undeniable sense of betrayal. After all, an unaccounted number of Indonesian soldiers gave their lives in Timor Timur -- as Indonesians refer to it -- for what they believed was their patriotic duty.

Of course, to be fair it can be said that thousands of East Timorese also died, either in peaceful rallies or in guerrilla skirmishes with the Indonesian military, fighting for what they believed was their innate right to self-determination. However, not all who feel betrayed by the developments that have taken place in East Timor are Indonesian soldiers. Many East Timorese who live in Indonesia and have become residents of this country and see Timor Lorosae's independence as a bitter pill that must somehow be swallowed.

Take, for example, the case of Fransisco Fernandes Dasilba, an East Timorese and a politician who has become an Indonesian citizen. For Dasilba and others like him, it is hard to accept Monday's declaration of independence, although as an Indonesian citizen he says he will follow any decision the government makes. He says, "For us it is not a declaration of independence, but a handover of independence from the UN to Fretilin," in a reference to the most popular political party whose armed wing, FALINTIL, was at the forefront of the struggle against the Indonesian military's occupation for 24 years.

Amid all this, the majority of Indonesians appear indifferent. After all East Timor does not share the same history as the other parts of the country. Furthermore, the 1945 Constitution explicitly states that the Republic of Indonesia encompasses only "the areas that were formerly the Netherlands East Indies." East Timor was never a part of the Dutch colony but belonged instead to Portugal.

Nevertheless, it is important to remember that from the geographical, economic, cultural and ethnic points of view, East Timor cannot be easily separated from Indonesia. And even as the new rulers of Timor Lorosae have made Portuguese the official language, to be used in official establishments and in schools, the Indonesian language, Bahasa Indonesia is widely understood, about 60% of the people were educated with it, and it is mentioned as a "working language" or business language, along with English, in their new constitution. It is likely to maintain such a position due to the country's close proximity to Indonesia.

For all these reasons, it is important that Indonesia maintains good and constructive relations with Timor Lorosae. It is in Indonesia's self-interest to see to it that East Timor develop into a stable and prosperous country, since continued unrest and poverty could result in a destabilized country that could, in turn, become a source of trouble, not only for Indonesia, but for the region as a whole.

In conclusion, therefore, we congratulate President Xanana Gusmao and all the people of Timor Lorosae on the attainment of independence and welcome them into the family of the free nations of the world.