UNAMET is unfair

UNAMET is unfair

I enjoyed reading G.K. Sangster's letter in The Jakarta Post
of Aug. 19, 1999. The letter was written by an expatriate who
witnessed the acts of UNAMET personnel in East Timor.

As a layman, I feel that UNAMET's official opinions are,
sometimes, not fair. The prointegration group's actions are
always blamed. In contrast, the actions of groups opposed to
integration are merely reported.

It is a known fact that Portugal always left unfinished
business, problems and chaos in its colonies, such as during the
decolonization of Mozambique and Angola, with Cuban mercenaries
playing a big role in the countries afterwards.

It is sad that Indonesia is always blamed for the problems in
East Timor. Is it because the smell of oil in the Timor Gap that
leads to UNAMET's unfair treatment? Because a free East Timor
will be much easier to dictate to than Indonesia? And because
UNAMET/Australia no longer fears the communist or socialist
ideology, as it was in the 1970s?

Last but not least, the wife of Indonesia's minister of
information, who herself is a native East Timorese, was rejected
when she tried to register for the ballot several weeks ago. Has
she been registered yet?

PRANOWO HADIWIDJOJO

Jakarta