Portugal-Netherlands agreement

Portugal-Netherlands agreement

When I was still rector of Pancasila University, one of my
assistants, Leo Simanjuntak, told me that actually without a
military invasion to East Timor, this former Portuguese colony
was already a legitimate part of the Republic of Indonesia.

That this is so is based on a treaty signed by Dutch foreign
minister Carel van Heeckeren and Portuguese foreign minister
Ernesto Rudolpho in Lisbon on June 10, 1893.

The treaty was confirmed in Statute Book No. 31/1984 by Dutch
queen, Emma.

If this treaty remains valid, East Timor is a legitimate part
of the Republic of Indonesia. The treaty mentions the ownership
of the western part of Timor island, occupied by the Netherlands,
and the eastern part of the island, which was controlled by
Portugal.

The treaty also stipulates that if Portugal leaves East Timor,
East Timor will automatically belong to the Netherlands by right
(part of the Dutch Indies). On the other hand, if the Netherlands
leaves the western part of Timor, this part will belong to
Portugal.

What was Dutch Indies before, is now the Republic of
Indonesia. So, after Portugal left East Timor, this part became
part of the Republic of Indonesia.

SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO

Jakarta