Unfortunate distractions

Different words have been used to express the official reactions to the latest events, but in conclusion it may be said that the demonstration by a group of East Timorese students at the United States Embassy in Jakarta and the rioting which occurred in Dili in the last several days are highly unfortunate incidents indeed. Unfortunate, because they occurred at a time when the government of Indonesia and the people alike are poised to host this country's most important international gathering of the year: the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Bogor.

It is an ingrained part of our culture that we always try to be a good host and that hence we will spare nothing in our power to make sure that we please our guests. In the case of today's APEC meeting, the government has taken practically every measure possible to ensure that the international gathering will be a success.

Some people have even complained that the authorities are going too far out of their way to please those guests. For example, although many Jakartans are naturally delighted by the fact that two extra holidays were proclaimed for the city, street vendors, who are being kept from doing their daily business because of the measure, have grumbled.

Now, suddenly, there are those two incidents.

Actually, judging by the chronology of events, one might say that they could have been anticipated. Nov. 12, after all, happens to be the anniversary of the Dili Incident of 1991. In past years attempts have usually been made to stage protests on that particular day.

However, seeking reasons or scapegoats does not help to clear up the situation. A much better attitude would be for us to use our common sense and not to react in anger. For one thing, this will prevent us from falling into the trap of emotional decision- making and the making of unnecessary blunders.

Some of the visiting leaders, such as President Bill Clinton, have already stated that they will raise the human rights issue during their visit to Jakarta. Hence, it seems practically certain that the East Timor issue will be raised during the planned bilateral talks.

One could argue that since the APEC conference is an economic meeting that will decide the future direction of half of the world's economies, one might just as well disregard the Timor incidents as something trivial, or at least insubstantial. Still, the issue of East Timor is clearly there and must thus somehow be addressed, lest it continue to haunt us for many more years to come.

For the last several years, particularly after the Dili Incident of 1991, most people here have acknowledged that a fresh approach should be made in addressing the East Timor issue. Many feel that a new policy should be outlined, which will put greater emphasis on psychological considerations and address the situation of the people of East Timor.

It must be said that the government has already started to move in that direction, for instance by cutting the number of combat troops in the area, by creating more job opportunities, and even, if the reports are true, by considering giving this 27th province a special status.

With regard to the two most recent incidents, it seems that the government has not moved fast enough with its new policies. And since we believe that at present East Timor is an economic and human rights problem, more than a political one, we think that we should start moving faster. Perhaps more incentives could be offered for investments in the province. And even other measures could be taken.

Most important of all, however, efforts may be necessary to ensure that the understanding of the concepts of basic rights gets a wider base in the province. In other words, we should do some serious soul-searching to find out what has gone wrong, and why. And then we should set out to adjust our approach and our policies even more.

In conclusion we must say that, unfortunate as they are, the latest incidents should not be allowed to overshadow or distract from the importance of the current APEC meetings in Jakarta and Bogor. After all, this truly is a historic event that could determine the well-being of the hundreds of millions of people who live in this region in the years and decades that are to come. Surely, this is an effort that is worth our fullest attention.