Fulfilling the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize

Fulfilling the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize

First of all, I would like to congratulate President Habibie
on his wise decision to possibly allow an independent East Timor.
This decision might help solve a problem which has troubled
Indonesia for many years. However, the Indonesian government now
faces another problem. It has to deal with two different groups
of Timorese: the fanatical pro-Indonesians and the even more
fanatical Fretilin and their supporters. The history of many
countries in the world shows that negotiations with politically,
ideologically or religiously motivated fanatics tend to fail
because they seldom listen to rational arguments.

Keeping this in mind, and in view of the growing tensions in
East Timor which may trigger civil war, I urgently appeal to
Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and Ramos-Horta to mediate
between the groups. Both men were honored with the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1996.

Bishop Belo should take all efforts to calm the pro-
Indonesian group and restrain them from resorting to violence. I
believe that these people might be open to convincing arguments
from the respected Timorese Bishop.

Ramos-Horta should try to calm his followers, which I believe
is not an easy task. Rather than trying to turn them into
professional revolutionaries, he should teach them how to work
hard to build a society in which people can enjoy the benefits of
freedom.

This is a decisive moment in time in which both Bishop Belo
and Ramos-Horta can really earn the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to
them.

MRS. HILDE MAY

Jakarta