Is RI still independent?
Is RI still independent?
In The Jakarta Post of June 24, 1999, I read with surprise the
article titled RI surprised by delay of East Timor ballot.
Foreign minister Ali Alatas said was he surprised that Kofi
Annan announced the postponement while personal representative on
East Timor Jamsheed Marker was still in the country to gather
information about the latest developments in East Timor. Alatas
has not received any official announcement from Annan's office.
Even the UN ignored Indonesia as a sovereign and independent
country and I think that this is our own fault, because we showed
our weakness and incapability to take care of our own affairs.
To secure a smooth, fair and honest general election, we
needed foreign forces to watch and observe the elections, because
Indonesians respect foreigners more than their own people.
East Timor is officially the 27th province of Indonesia and as
such a legal part of the republic of Indonesia. If from the very
beginning we were not sure that we could maintain a foothold in
East Timor as part of Indonesia, then why did we invade East
Timor in 1976? What were the motives of marching into this ex-
Portuguese territory? What is so special about East Timor? Why
must a Timorese rebel -- I forget his name -- who clearly has
violated Indonesian law and as such was sentenced, receive
special treatment, get his own house outside prison, get his own
lawyers and special guards, which cost extra money that belongs
to Indonesian taxpayers. What East Timor will be in the future is
another matter, but until this very moment East Timor is still
part of the republic of Indonesia. Whether the sentenced rebel
will become president of a future East Timor republic is
something of the future. We have here so many future presidents
of Indonesia, like Habibie, Megawati, Abdurrahman Wahid, Amien
Rais, but they do not get any special treatment. They are
considered normal citizens still.
Due to this show of weakness, foreign observers are arriving
in the 27th province of Indonesia, and foreign police to secure
law and order during the ballot, as if the Indonesian Police are
impotent and not capable of doing their duty.
As an Indonesian I feel insulted by the step the UN secretary-
general has taken and his ignoring of the fact that he is dealing
with a free and independent country.
I appeal to all Indonesians, show your strength by forging
unity. Everything you do, you do for the best of Indonesia as a
whole and not for the benefit of one political party or your own
profit.
Once again, let us be united and become strong, so foreigners
will show respect to us.
SOEGIH ARTO
Jakarta