Japan, Indonesia and East Timor

Japan, Indonesia and East Timor

(Indonesian President B.J.) Habibie said Indonesia would maintain the presence of its national army, probably to save face for its members. The president should not forget that the wary eyes of the international community are still focused on Indonesia. It is an undeniable fact that Indonesian troops provided military training to anti-independence youths and encouraged the local population to provide tips about the proindependence movement.

The fact that nearly 80 percent of the population supported independence in the referendum shows that the army's ploy has been ineffective. When order is restored in East Timor, Indonesia's troops should be pulled out.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government refrained from openly twisting the arm of the Indonesian government out of consideration for the stability of the Habibie government. Japan has also been unwilling over the years to play a large part in solving the conflict in East Timor. That is not the way for Japan to deliver on its international responsibility.

Obstacles to peace can be overcome only by a reconciliation among the population, the restoration of order and a return to normalcy in the people's daily lives.

-- The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo