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.