The East Timor problem
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.