Self-respect as a nation

Self-respect as a nation

With reference to the post-ballot situation in East Timor in
the past few days, Indonesia is like someone having one
misfortune after the other. Indonesia has to feel both sad and
ashamed for having to lose East Timor as part of its territory,
and at the same time it has to sustain strong rebuke from a
number of countries which consider Indonesia the only party
responsible for the outbreak of a series of post-ballot riots in
East Timor.

Habibie certainly has to account for the separation of East
Timor from Indonesia. Obviously, his decision on this matter,
which is very much linked with his personal political interest,
has not been sufficiently considered. Very clearly he has made a
mistake now and has also failed as a President.

As part of the international community, Indonesia must accept
the outcome of the direct ballot, which has been held by virtue
of an international agreement. However, as East Timor has been
hit by greater chaos following the direct ballot, other
countries, such as Australia, cannot just blame everything upon
Indonesia.

Australia itself has obviously assumed a double standard in
its attitude toward the two options offered by the Indonesian
government. On the one hand Australia says it will take a neutral
stance regarding the option that the East Timorese are likely to
take, but on the other it is largely to its great interest that
East Timor is separated from Indonesia. As for the latter,
Australia has involved itself in unfair practices through its
representatives in the United Nations Mission in East Timor
(UNAMET). The chaos now taking place in East Timor has in a way
been allegedly triggered by unfair practices by a number of
UNAMET members unacceptable to one of the two conflicting groups.

As a sovereign nation, we certainly cannot allow other
countries to denigrate our self-respect as they wish. We need not
remind Australia, for example, of their ill-treatment of the
Aborigines there. Regardless of which group wins the direct
ballot, our hope is that the East Timorese may be able to start a
better life in the post-ballot period.

EMELIUS MINSIN

Pontianak, West Kalimantan