Investigate the deaths

To draw international sympathy and trust, the government has recently stated the need to investigate the 1975 deaths of five foreign reporters in East Timor. They were Malcom Rennie, Brian Peters, Greg Shackleton, Tony Stewart and Gary Cunningham.

This is an appropriate decision and could speed up the settlement of the East Timor question. In the case of West Irian (now Irian Jaya), the government's struggle to bring it back to the Indonesian fold took only about 12 years because the international community generally sympathized with Indonesia.

In the case of East Timor, it would be best if the government immediately released all East Timorese political detainees so that their people can realize that the present administration is not the same as the previous regime. In this way, it would be more likely for them to wish to be a part of the Republic of Indonesia.

In addition to an investigation into the death of the foreign journalists, the government should also immediately investigate other controversial incidents as well, including the death of scores of Indonesian Moslems in the Tanjung Priok incident and the tragedy of July 27, 1996. Such a move would be supported by the Indonesian people and the international community.

Indonesians are longing for justice. Should the government investigate the above-mentioned incidents, it could silence public accusations that it is discriminatory in dealing with such cases. Assertions that these cases no longer deserve investigation because they happened in the distant past are not appropriate. Many eyewitnesses to these incidents are still alive and can help clarify the matter.

Who knows? If the government decides to investigate and clarify the above cases, predominantly Moslem countries, such as the oil-rich states in the Middle East, might sympathize with our situation and offer assistance to help us get out of this protracted economic crisis.

H. IFRAD SUKAMTO

Jakarta