Editorial & Opinion ; A cry for Eas

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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.