The Timor debate

Like a stubborn pain that comes and goes but refuses to fade entirely, the East Timor issue continues to surface now and then with a level of irritation that could to a certain extent impair Indonesia's relations with other countries.

One of the latest proofs of this is the fact that New Zealand's Prime Minister, J.B. Bolger, considered it prudent during his visit to mention the issue in a meeting with President Soeharto. Although no official statement was made to affirm this, it appeared likely that the issue was mentioned because of a petition signed recently by 51 of the 99 members of New Zealand's parliament, urging that the Prime Minister assert New Zealand's concern over the human rights situation in East Timor. New Zealand officials, however, have made it clear that the issue will not affect relations between the two countries.

Aside from New Zealand's concerns, however, there is at present another matter which should be of even greater concern. That is, of course, the current strain which the East Timor issue has caused in Indonesia's relations with the Philippines. This is a delicate matter whose handling demands good statesmanship and great foresight on the part of the leaders on both sides.

As has been reported, the problem began with an initiative, which the Philippine authorities said was taken by certain non- governmental organizations in Manila, to hold an Asia Pacific Conference on East Timor in the Philippine capital beginning at the end of this month.

Indonesia regards the meeting as nothing but a platform for East Timorese "anti-integrationists" led by Ramos Horta, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Alatas, has conveyed this country's strong "disappointment" over the Manila government's inability to ban the meeting.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with Filipino presidential envoy Raul Manglapus on Monday, Alatas went so far as to dispense with diplomatic formality. "Let's not use diplomatic language here. Indonesia is disappointed at the Philippine government's inability to stop the seminar."

According to Alatas, Indonesia opposes the conference because it is part of a political campaign launched by Horta in cooperation with local Philippine organizers. It appears difficult for Indonesia to "buy" the Philippine government's official assertion that the discussion will be of a purely academic nature and that it cannot ban it on the ground that the right of assembly is guaranteed by the Philippine constitution.

Given Manila's persistence so far vis-a-vis the strong feelings in Jakarta on the matter, there is no denying that the issue is potentially explosive.

The Indonesian media, in reporting the discord, for example, have made frequent references to the still smoldering Moro issue in the southern Philippines. The Surabaya Post, for example, reported that, "If Manila persists in its refusal to ban the conference, it may not be impossible that Indonesia will `retaliate' by sponsoring an international conference on the Moro separatist movement.

"As has been stated by the chairman of the Islamic World Solidarity Movement, Lukman Harun, Indonesia could easily organize such a conference considering the fact that Indonesia enjoys an excellent standing among Islamic countries throughout the world," the newspaper said. "In addition, the emotions of Indonesians, who are predominantly Moslem, are easily inflamed by religious sentiments. Reports about acts of injustice suffered by Moslems throughout the world can very easily ignite the emotions of Indonesian Moslems."

As was reported late yesterday, a North Sulawesi delegation scheduled to attend an ASEAN Business Conference in Davao, the Philippines, has canceled its departure due to the spat. And Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas himself is reported to have warned Manila "not to belittle Indonesia's feelings" over the issue.

It is appalling to think of the far-reaching consequences that such a turn of events might have for this region. We do hope that a good sense of perspective will prevail on both sides of the conflict to bring the discord to a happy end.

As for the continuing criticism which Indonesia has to endure over the East Timor issue, we believe it may be time for us to take a really good look at how we are presenting ourselves and the Timor issue abroad. The best way to deal with the problem once and for all would be, of course, to ensure the world that we honestly respect human rights -- not only in East Timor, but throughout Indonesia. We think President Soeharto's invitation to the New Zealand parliament to send a delegation of observers to the province is a step along the right path.