Jakarta's East Timor duty

Jakarta's East Timor duty

Indonesia and Portugal have agreed on the outlines of a plan to allow the people of East Timor to decide their future. The plan has serious flaws. It will require responsible policing to prevent the outbreak of a civil war. ASEAN should insist that Indonesia does better.

Jakarta's promise to cut East Timor free if citizens vote against the autonomy plan has great hidden dangers. The first, as everyone has seen in the past three weeks, is the risk of civil war. Indonesia's neighbors have been largely silent or, worse, supportive of the past 23 years of Indonesian arrogance and brutality in East Timor. It would be to their credit if they intervene with Jakarta now. In fact, if they fail to intervene, the risk of great tragedy in East Timor is vastly greater.

Such a responsible process can begin this week, at Bali. President Jusuf Habibie is to meet Australian Prime Minister John Howard and their talks will focus on East Timor. Australia is the only country in the world to recognize the colonial invasion of East Timor -- and many argue this confers a special burden on Australia. Howard says he will urge Habibie to take more steps to protect East Timorese, especially from the pro-Jakarta militias.

This should go much further. Howard should promise aid to Timor. He should offer Australian troops to monitor a Timor peace -- never mind that Jakarta insists it needs none. And he should discuss the use of the Australian military in case of Timorese civil war.

ASEAN as usual has been more interested in mollycoddling a fellow nation than in doing the right thing. ASEAN members should speak out on East Timor, together if possible or individually if necessary. They should tell Indonesia that it has a moral, legal duty to protect the East Timorese -- especially by disarming and blocking the militias.

Indonesia cannot redeem a generation of colonialism, brutality and political repression. It can, however, regain some dignity from its East Timor tragedy. It can provide security and opportunity for a free election. It can step between the two emotional sides and prevent a civil war. It can ensure that it leaves East Timor with dignity.

-- The Bangkok Post