Freedom for E. Timor: Wrong offer at wrong time

Freedom for E. Timor: Wrong offer at wrong time

Indonesia's sudden shift of stance on East Timor has created a
political earthquake. Political analyst J. Soedjati Djiwandono
fears that it is an attempt to divert the people's attention from
the government's failure to address the current crisis.

JAKARTA (JP): The recent option offered by the Habibie
government to the East Timorese for independence from the unitary
Indonesian republic is in the first place a mistaken offer. It is
a unilateral act, even if it is better than the policy of the
previous government, for it ignores the wishes of the East
Timorese themselves, which should be the first and uppermost
consideration.

To leave the matter to the new MPR (People's Consultative
Assembly) resulting from the next general election to decide
rather than to the people of East Timor themselves only adheres
to the Indonesian constitutional process. It does not change the
unilateral nature of the offer.

Indeed, the East Timorese have differed among themselves from
the outset on the future of their land. This is precisely why the
fairest and most democratic way to solve these differences would
be a referendum.

The fact that even now conflicts have erupted in East Timor
should not stand in the way of a referendum, although it may
require a longer and more costly process of preparation. Such
conflicts among the East Timorese have been made worse since the
territory's integration into the Indonesian republic, and further
aggravated by the current crisis experienced by Indonesia, of
which East Timor has formed a part for more than two decades. The
problem for the East Timorese, as well as for the Indonesians as
a whole, is how in a democracy to learn to lose with grace rather
than resorting to violence, or to win with magnanimity.

Besides, the reaction of the international community
represented by the UN to East Timor's integration into Indonesia
has from the start emphasized the need for an exercise in the
East Timorese right to self-determination. A clear formulation of
the options offered to the people through the referendum is a key
to its success. In terms of UN resolutions relating to the
exercise of the right to self-determination, a non self-governing
territory may choose one of three alternatives, namely, (1)
integration with the administering country; (2) integration with
another sovereign state; or (3) establishment of a sovereign and
independent state of its own.

As far as East Timor is concerned, who will be entitled to
take part in the referendum needs to be clearly defined as well.
In an television interview Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Alatas, referring to the difficult, costly, and long process of a
referendum, and hence the Indonesian government's aversion to it,
said in effect that any East Timorese now living outside the
province should return first, and those Indonesians now living in
the province since its integration with Indonesia ought to be
brought back from there. The implication, however, is not clear.
Does he understand the expression 'East Timorese' purely in
ethnic terms or in some other terms as well?

Indeed, a referendum would be a costly and complex affair for
East Timor. Therefore, there needs to be close cooperation
between Indonesia, Portugal, and the UN representing the
international community right through from start to finish.

However, should the probability of violence be too high a risk
before, during or after a referendum in view of the existing
conflicts, some form of a dialog between the leaders of the
conflicting groups in East Timor may be considered, as suggested
by Bishop Belo, in lieu of a referendum. Whichever means is
employed, however, cooperation between the three parties
mentioned earlier remains vital.

The option of independence for East Timor is, in the second
place, being offered at the wrong time. The intention, therefore,
is suspect. The Habibie government is lacking in legitimacy. This
explains the crisis of confidence and credibility, and thus of
leadership in this country.

Therefore, in addition to carrying on with efforts to deal
with the economic crisis, it needs to focus its attention on the
exercise of a free and fair election next June with a view to the
formation of a new government. The preparation of a referendum
for East Timor will be a long process. It does not have to be
initiated by the present government.

One may rightly wonder if the government is trying to divert
attention from the current multi-dimensional crisis it is failing
to overcome. East Timor is still a province of Indonesia, and
therefore it has been suffering from the crisis just as much as
the rest of the country. Efforts to deal with the crisis in the
country must also include East Timor. The government should not
wash its hands of the problem. Bishop Belo has remarked that if
Indonesia should leave East Timor in a state of civil war, the
Indonesians would be worse than the Portuguese.

The offer may also imply an admission of guilt for past
mistakes, or a failure in managing the process of the territory's
integration with Indonesia, or both. The establishment of a
civilian militia -- while the military leadership denies arming
the civilians -- is not likely to solve existing conflicts, while
in fact it may have the opposite effect.

In that context, could it be that behind the offer of
independence lurks some hope that failing to agree among
themselves to establish a sovereign and independent state, the
East Timorese would ultimately return to the fold of Indonesia,
thereby losing forever their bargaining power vis-a-vis the
central government in any future demand for independence or even
special status within Indonesia? There may exist some groups of
people with their own vested interests, who would not like to see
East Timor separated from Indonesia. Indeed, many have lost their
lives on both sides, including members of the Armed Forces
(ABRI), who entered East Timor initially as "volunteers".

Whatever the case, the developments in East Timor since its
integration with Indonesia are consequent upon the fact that the
process has been violent and bloody from the start. Indonesia
must be willing to pay the price of putting the record straight.