Nobel Peace Prize

From Media Indonesia

The conferring of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize on Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and East Timor anti-integration activist Jose Ramos Horta was shocking indeed. In the case of Belo, it is acceptable. But the choice of a political opportunist like Horta -- who has been accused by his own anti-integration circle of expropriating funds -- is very much politically motivated. The choosing of Horta was possibly due to support from anti-Indonesia groups abroad.

It must be admitted, however, that such things can happen. Horta has succeeded in his consistent and continuous campaigns, while the Indonesian government lacks agility in countering Horta's offensive.

Another factor is the inadequate information on and the ignorance of the situation in Indonesia. CNN, for example, shows its naive ignorance of Indonesia in its reports on the award.

The precious lesson gained from this experience is that Indonesia should diffuse information and activate its diplomacy to a greater extent to confront anti-Indonesia campaigns and propaganda. But this would not be enough. It should be supported by the improvement of social, economic and political conditions at home, in order not to offer an occasion for those who, from the start, did not mean well and did not want to see our country prosper.

SATRIO ARISMUNANDAR

Jakarta