The East Timor problem

Whatever the circumstances that led up to it, the reported death of Orlando Marcelino, a 35-year-old East Timorese farmer, and the wounding of five other people in a shooting incident in Baucau yesterday is yet another damaging addition to the record of Indonesia's presence in the former Portuguese colony.

As news reports had it, this latest incident occurred in the early afternoon yesterday, just minutes after three European Union (EU) ambassadors who are in the province on a fact finding visit arrived at Baucau Cathedral to hold talks with local church leader Bishop Basilio Do Nascimento.

A crowd numbering in the hundreds, which had been milling around in front of the cathedral shouting slogans demanding self- determination for the province, surged forward to welcome the two cars carrying the ambassadors when they arrived. It was at this moment, apparently, that the crowd became aware of a third car carrying Indonesian intelligence officers, which was following at the rear of the ambassadors' motorcade.

Some of the crowd began to beat on the car's windows and roof while others pelted it with stones. Apparently fearing for his safety, one of the intelligence officers inside the car fired his pistol into the crowd. Another officer fired tear gas into the midst of the mob. Witnesses said yet another officer fired into the crowd with an automatic weapon.

Orlando is the second person to have been killed since the EU ambassadors arrived in East Timor. On Saturday, the first day of the ambassadors' four-day visit, another East Timorese man was fatally shot, reportedly when troops were trying to break up a fight between demonstrators demanding self-determination and those who support integration with Indonesia. The deaths are ironic because the European Union fact-finding delegation is in East Timor to try to help find a peaceful solution to the problems from which the province is suffering.

Although it is difficult, and perhaps unfair, to judge the actions of the Indonesian intelligence officers in question on the basis of the sketchy information so far available, one might ask whether the officers realize the grave impact which this and similar incidents will have if they continue to occur in East Timor. With the benefit of hindsight, one could also question the wisdom of allowing security officials to escort the visiting ambassadors in such a conspicuous manner, considering the sentiments that exist in the territory.

It is indeed unfortunate that almost a quarter of a century after the province's integration into Indonesia, East Timor continues to be a thorn in the country's side. One of the major factors thought to have contributed to this situation is the frequent use of excessive force on the province's inhabitants. If substantial progress is to be made toward settling the problem, the belief that force and coercion are effective means by which to do so must be abandoned once and for all.

For Indonesia, the best solution, obviously, is for the East Timorese to accept, freely and without coercion, President Habibie's offer of special status for the province. However, if that offer is to be effective much work has to be done to improve social, humanitarian and local political conditions in East Timor.

Ultimately a free referendum -- and a wholehearted acceptance by Indonesia of whatever results that may bring -- could prove to be the best and most honorable way to settle the problem for good.