International wishes
International wishes
From Rakyat Merdeka
The result of the direct ballot in East Timor as announced by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan showed that East Timor, Indonesia's 27th province, rejected the wide-ranging autonomy offered by the Indonesian government. Despite alleged rigging by the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), particularly its partiality toward proindependence supporters, the Electoral Commission of East Timor's Popular Consultation decided that the direct ballot was conducted fairly and honestly.
As a dignified nation willing to remain part of the international community, we all must accept this decision with magnanimity.
I also wish to call on all parties to respond to this decision by the international body with one voice. The separation of East Timor from Indonesia is a wish nurtured by the international community (the United Nations). Whoever is in power in Indonesia will be unable to overcome such strong pressure. This appeal is particularly addressed to those holding real power in the country, such as major political parties, mass organizations and the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Disputes involving these groups will only be good news to the outside world, which is actually implementing a grand scheme to weaken the Indonesian people. Let us not waste our time, money and energy fighting among ourselves, as such disputes will be to the disadvantage of everyone.
Let's now try to see that all recent events -- the monetary crisis, the human rights violations in Banyuwangi, Kupang, West Kalimantan, Aceh, Ambon and so forth, the trafficking in and abuse of drugs, pornography and the East Timor issue are all interrelated. Therefore, in facing common enemies, invisible and hard to prove the existence of, let's deal with them together in ways which conform to our Eastern values and religious teachings.
University students who have served as the pillars of reform, should elegantly fight together against the unjust practices our country has been subjected to. Don't burn the flags of other countries simply because our flag is burned in some countries abroad. Don't resort to unjust reporting simply because the Western media unjustly reports about us.
The wilder our young people appear, the happier these foreign quarters will be. Show the Western people that we are culturally more refined than them. As for Indonesian non-governmental organizations, they must respect the results of the direct ballot in East Timor and be aware that our nation is being subjected to efforts of disintegration.
We know that the policies made by the New Order administration were very wrong, but we must now close ranks against foreign intervention and sanctions which will be imposed on us by the international community. As for the state's leaders, they must quickly, earnestly, honestly, justly and transparently settle the crises left behind by the New Order regime.
As for the prointegration East Timorese, they should work together with others to move toward a prosperous Indonesia for our common good. Leave behind violence, which will never solve any problems.
SOEKMANA SOMA
Bogor, West Java