UNAMET must not take sides

I support Mr. Florence Dos Santos' letter concerning the role of United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) which appeared in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 5, 1999. UNAMET's role in this month's referendum is very strategic in nature. As a mission of the world body, UNAMET must exercise its mission with full responsibility without the slightest bias for or against either sides (proindependence or prointegration).

It disappoints me that UNAMET has failed to show its integrity as an international arm of the UN and favor one side over the other. Mr. Santos said that one Australian UNAMET staffer even flew an Australian flag and in Liquica the Indonesian red and white flag was torn down by a proindependence group.

I share Mr. Santos's view that Australia has a special interest in East Timor due to the huge Timor Gap Project. But I believe Australia, as a post-colonial power, could easily act in a way that is shameful. When the Australian prime minister visited East Timor a few weeks ago, we saw how he acted like a godfather giving instructions to the Indonesian government.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also behaved in the same way by arbitrarily postponing the referendum date. All the unfavorable things happening in East Timor, as far as the referendum is concerned, might result from the too lenient policy on the part of the Indonesian government in dealing with violations of referendum procedures.

It should be taken into consideration by all foreign personnel in East Timor that they are guests there and as guests they should behave accordingly.

MUHD. RAMZY HASIBUAN

Jakarta