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Editorial & Opinion ; A cry for Eas
- Subject: Editorial & Opinion ; A cry for Eas
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 19:42:00
Subject: Editorial & Opinion ; A cry for East Timor from a Jakarta prison
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Editorial & Opinion
A cry for East Timor from
a Jakarta prison cell
Jailed resistance leader Xanana Gusmao
has called on the United Nations to monitor
the pledged withdrawal of Indonesian
troops from his homeland.
WHILE pro-democracy activists continue to
push for an end to the Habibie military
government in Indonesia, my fellow East
Timorese and I remain that country's
prisoners.
My jail cell is a conventional one, located in
the Cipinang Prison here. The prison of my
750,000 fellow East Timorese is our
country, one that the US-backed Indonesian
military invaded in 1975.
Almost 23 years later, Indonesia's brutal
military remains in our homeland. More than
250,000 East Timorese -- about one-third
of the pre-invasion population -- have died
as a direct result of Indonesia's illegal
occupation. But despite the downfall in May
of Suharto, Indonesia's long-time dictator,
little has changed in East Timor under his
successor, Habibie.
What has changed is the larger context in
which the occupation takes place. Never
before has there been such external
pressure on Indonesia to end its occupation
and allow for the holding of an
internationally supervised referendum as
provided for under United Nations
resolutions.
Indonesia's economy is a shambles. The
economic crisis has led to hunger and
unemployment for more than 80 million
Indonesians. In addition, Indonesia's
military -- the real power behind the throne
in Jakarta -- is politically vulnerable as
reports of its numerous atrocities within
Indonesia increasingly come to light. And
domestic activists are intensifying pressure
on Jakarta to allow for real democratic
reforms.
These national and international factors
have compelled the Indonesian government
to give the appearance of flexibility. Thus,
after so many years of refusing any change
in East Timor's status, Jakarta took the
unprecedented step of offering autonomy.
While this is progress, it is not a serious
proposal as long as it does not ultimately
allow the East Timorese to decide their
own political fate by means of a
referendum.
Indonesia offer, however, has opened
important diplomatic space. In
UN-brokered negotiations in New York on
Aug 4-5, Indonesia and Portugal agreed to
establish interest sections in each other's
capitals. (Portugal, East Timor's former
colonial master, remains the ''administering
power'' of the country under international
law.)
Although Jakarta has long defied UN
Security Council resolutions calling on it to
withdraw from East Timor ''without delay'',
Indonesia also agreed to gradually reduce
the number of its troops in the territory. But
such a promise is empty unless the United
Nations regularly verifies that reductions
are taking place. Indeed, the East
Timorese resistance reports the arrival of
thousands of new Indonesian troops over
the past few weeks.
A more important issue for the East
Timorese people, however, is the
continuing human rights atrocities. Jakarta
must commit itself to ending the activities of
its soldiers, intelligence agents and
paramilitary groups that continue to
terrorise the population. Unspeakable
cases of torture, disappearances and
collective massacres are the true face of
Indonesia's cruel annexation of our country.
We insist that Indonesia allow credible
international groups to enter East Timor to
gather data on these human rights abuses.
Only in this way can the international
community and the Indonesian people
come to know how much the East Timorese
have suffered and how much we love and
deserve our freedom.
For the East Timorese, the August meeting
in New York opened the way for a serious
and far-reaching dialogue, one that must
allow for our direct and full participation. We
congratulate UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan and his special representative,
Jamsheed Marker, for their historic efforts.
The East Timorese people are ready to
meet the challenge of peace, one we face
with the same spirit of determination that
has guided our struggle for freedom over
the past 23 years.
We will continue to support the peace
process with all our hearts, as long as it
respects our right to self-determination as
called for by 10 UN resolutions and as
affirmed by the International Court of
Justice.
The United States can play an important
role in this process. In the name of justice,
freedom, peace and democracy, President
Clinton can help put an end to the
Indonesian military's illegal occupation of
our homeland. A good way to begin would
be by ceasing to supply and train the
Indonesian armed forces.
----------------
Xanana Gusmao is president of the
National Council of Timorese Resistance.
Captured in East Timor by Indonesian
soldiers in 1992, he is serving a 20-year
sentence.