Mandela's peace efforts

Mandela's peace efforts

South African President Nelson Mandela has proven himself to
be not only one of the world's most respected freedom fighters
but also a serious peacemaker. Mandela met with his Portuguese
counterpart Jorge Sampaio in Pretoria yesterday to discuss
efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the East Timor issue.

The meeting has long been suggested by his ruling African
National Congress (ANC), which decided that South African foreign
policy should be sensitive to human rights issues everywhere.

Whatever the motivation behind the Pretoria meeting, both
Indonesia and Portugal want to see Mandela's efforts result in
success and significantly contribute toward a negotiated
settlement of the problem, which has dragged on for 22 years.

During his recent visit here, Mandela met with Jose Alexandre
"Xanana" Gusmao, who is serving a 20-year jail term for leading
an armed rebellion for a separate East Timor state. President
Soeharto gave his blessing to the meeting, showing Indonesia's
goodwill concerning the matter.

Three years ago Portugal urged the South African leader to
contribute toward the solution of its conflict with Indonesia.

Indonesian and Portuguese ministers of foreign affairs, under
the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General, have met
nine times but failed to reach a concrete solution.

Given the complex nature of the Pretoria meeting and the fact
it is not yet known how Mandela hopes to achieve a peaceful
settlement, we understand how tough his job will be.

The conflicting parties are still nowhere near a peaceful
solution. For Jakarta, the East Timor problem no longer exists
since its people decided to integrate into Indonesia while
Portugal has refused to recognize East Timor's integration and
demands a referendum.

But judging Mandela's stature, charisma and personality as a
freedom fighter, we have reason to be optimistic. The fact that
both Portugal and Indonesia highly respect him will also work in
his favor.

Since ANC has put the burden of solving the human rights
problem on his shoulders we believe the first thing the South
African leader should do is remind Portugal that he is a genuine
freedom fighter.

He also has to remind Portugal about how bombastic its pro-
human rights slogans are today, as one of the longest colonial
powers ever in modern history.

We also understand that the former Portuguese colony has
caused a lot of problems for Jakarta despite its development
efforts there. Foreign countries continue to attack us over human
rights in East Timor and the issue has profusely burdened our
diplomats abroad.

The presentation of a Nobel Peace Prize to Jose Ramos-Horta, a
gadfly who calls himself spokesman for East Timor separatist
elements, has also worsened our image abroad.

Whether or not the diplomatic efforts proceed, the government
should continue its efforts to consolidate development programs
in the province. The authorities need an integral program which
will meet the needs of the local people.

This will not only boost the welfare of the Timorese but also
open the world's eyes to our efforts to modernize the province.