On East Timor

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