On East Timor

The globally circulated Newsweek magazine on Sep. 13 published an article titled East Timor, one thug, one vote.

This article is clearly manipulative and misleading by stating: "East Timor's prospects are grim. In 1975 Portugal departed the island colony, and Indonesian forces immediately moved in. The East Timorese fought the invaders, and lost."

Unfortunately, the article does not tell readers why Indonesian forces moved in. Actually, East Timor could have become another Cuba if the communist-leaning Fretilin came to power in the territory. This prospect made Indonesia as well as Australia and the United States uneasy. At the time, both Australia and the United States supported Indonesia sending its forces into East Timor. Also, it should be remembered there was a war among the territory's various political factions -- Fretilin was one of them -- when Indonesia moved in.

It should also be remembered that Indonesia would not have moved into East Timor if the United States had not supported it. I think Newsweek should present a balanced and accurate view of the issue rather than printing manipulative articles. Such articles merely blame Indonesia without presenting the fact that Portugal left East Timor in disarray. The historical facts should not be manipulated, unless Newsweek has certain purposes in publishing the article.

H.W PIENANDORO

Bogor, West Java