May 08, 1999
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| May 08, 1999 | atimes.com | |
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| Southeast Asia Mixed feelings as Timor independence inches closer By Kafil Yamin JAKARTA - Indonesians' feelings are mixed as the prospect of East Timor's separation moves even closer, following this week's accord at the United Nations on a voteto decide on autonomy or independence for the territory. The agreement provides for a ''consultation'' in which the EastTimorese can vote on August 8 on whether to accept Jakarta's formulafor ''special autonomy'' or go for independence. Some express fatigue with the East Timor issue - long athorn in Indonesia's side, hurting its human rights record and overseas image. ''The government is an idiot. Why don't they just set theTimorese free? That's a once and for all solution,'' says MahdarRifadi, an activist with the National Mandate Party (NAP). Others feel a sense of some loss, despite conceding that theIndonesian government, especially the military, mishandled theterritory for more than two decades. ''Yes, East Timor is politically disputed. But de facto, we[Indonesia] became one big family. The release of East Timor fromthe Republic of Indonesia will have a disastrous impact,'' saysPeter Gontha, a businessman. He echoes the apprehension that, beyond the fate of East Timoritself, the momentum toward its separation would start the processof disintegration - or at least embolden the Indonesianarchipelago's other restless provinces in seeking autonomy orindependence as well. ''Once East Timor is released, Aceh and Irian [Jaya] will takethe lead. And the nation is under the threat of disintegration,''Gontha said. Jakarta has ruled out independence for Aceh and Irian Jaya,where separatist movements have persisted for years. Just thisweek, more than 30 people were killed when soldiers fired oncivilians in an Acehnese village where separatists are active. For their part, some other regions of Indonesia are sayingJakarta has been giving too much attention to East Timor and hasneglected them though they are an integral part of the country. ''We have come to the conclusion that we should take up armsagainst the government to draw their attention to us,'' saysDaniel Harryson, a resident of Kupang in East Nusatenggara, thewestern half of Timor island. ''We feel we are being treated as stepchildren,'' he says.''We've been part of this country since it was born. We are a goodmember of this big family, but the government cares about therebellious children more,'' Harryson adds, in clear reference toEast Timor. But for many government officials, East Timor has become aliability they would rather be free of. ''We've come to the commitment that this 'pebble in the shoe'should have been overcome as we enter the next millenium,'' saysDewi Fortuna Anwar, a foreign affairs advisor to PresidentBacharuddin Jusuf Habibie. Malik Fachruddin, a civil servant who used to regularly visitEast Timor on official duty, is more forthright. ''Every year, wespend 20 billion rupiah on it, an amount that is hardly obtainedby other regions,'' he says. If East Timor becomes independent ''we will save the money andwe will have a better international image,'' he adds. ''For years, we've been respected as a noted anti-colonialnation, and we could walk tall in the international community.Since the inclusion of Timor into our territory, we walk with ourheads bowed,'' argues Harryansah Khairul, a press officer at theIndonesian foreign ministry. Still, analysts say that many Indonesians, psychologically atleast, have gotten used to thinking of East Timor as part of thecountry. While expressing respect for the right of the East Timorese to self-determination, a good number continue to view the issue as a matter of Indonesia's internal affairs. A recent poll by Tempo magazine showed that 52 percent ofrespondents preferred independence without referendum, 34 percentwanted East Timor to remain part of Indonesia and 12 percentwould opt for a limited period of transitional autonomy followed by areferendum. The matter of having international peacekeepers in East Timoris also controversial. The same poll showed that 57.3 percent of those surveyedopposed the presence of UN police or any foreign force inEast Timor. But 40.3 percent agreed with the idea, and 2.3 percentabstained. Under the May 5 accord, the UN will soon organize and dispatcha multinational police force to help maintain peace and monitorthe August 8 vote. Members of the force will carry only sidearms. Jakarta had long resisted the assignment of a militarypeacekeeping force in East Timor. For some, even the civilianpresence agreed upon with the UN was too big a concession. ''Habibie has sold the country to foreign forces because heinvites UN police there. We don't have dignity. It is indeed ahumiliation,'' says Yogie Soegiarto, an employee with the nationalaircraft manufacturing firm IPTN. ''We are willing to separate from our brothers in Timor, butthough respectable manner,'' he adds. But while international presence is a matter of dignity forsome Indonesians, for the East Timorese it is a lifeline to a credible vote. Already, they fear that many East Timorese will not be able toexpress their real desires in the August vote because ofintimidation by pro-integration militia. Critics also say the failure by the Indonesian government to restore order so far raises doubts about the military's impartiality and real desire to stop the factional violence. After all, under the UN-overseen accord the government remains responsible for peace and order in East Timor. Thus, Hendardi, lawyer of jailed resistance leader JoseAlexandre Xanana Gusmao, says: ''It's only logical that as we seethe incapability of ABRI [the armed forces], Xanana calls for UNforces to be there." At the same time, many Indonesians are more preoccupied withthe June 7 general election than with the East Timor vote, since thefirst one will have a more direct effect on them. But already, the growing distance between East Timor and therest of Indonesia may be evident in the fact that the country'selection committee has given East Timor only four seats in theHouse of Representatives for the June poll. East Timor normally would be expected to have 13 seats in the House, since ithas 13 constituent units. (Inter Press Service) | |||||||||
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