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