United Nations peacekeeping force

East Timor is descending toward despair. General Wiranto and Minister Ali Alatas insist that every day, in every way, things are getting better and better. The rest of the world knows better; Why does President Habibie delay? Who is giving Mr. Habibie such shortsighted advice and discouraging him from inviting the UN troops to safeguard the people of East Timor from the mutinous militias and regular troops?

Where have the critics been since last January when the referendum decision was made? Not offering alternatives, that much we know. Why do so many political leaders now insist on raising the flag of national pride on this particular issue? That advice is knee-jerk nationalism, not patriotism. The UN peacekeeping forces do not come as an invading army. This is not an army from an enemy nation; indeed it is not from any sovereign nation as such. Sovereignty should not even be an issue in the debate. Military discipline, not sovereignty, is the issue.

Inviting the UN forces would not show weakness, it would show strength. It would show that President Habibie is not dominated by his military advisors -- who have a vested interest in retaining control and saving face. It would show the strength of Indonesia's civil authorities, a prerequisite for economic recovery now that the weakness of the military hierarchy is so clear. It would show this regime's independence from the opinions of Minister Ali Alatas, with his overriding allegiance to Soeharto and the status quo. It would show President Habibie's willingness to put the welfare of a regional community above personal political interests.

If, as some have speculated, President Habibie yielded to the Indonesian Military (TNI) on the issue of martial law in exchange for electoral support in November, he has precious little time left to redeem this shameful act by replacing the TNI with UN troops in East Timor immediately. The only ones losing face by inviting UN assistance are the already weakened military leaders. No, any shame to Indonesia comes not from requesting UN peacekeepers, but from tolerating the torture and murders one minute longer. Does President Habibie really want to sacrifice 800,000 East Timorese and Indonesia's good name in the international community, just to appease the generals?

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan, North Sumatra