From: lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu (Luis Miguel Silveira)
Subject: Re: Solution for East Timor?
Organization: Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of
	Technology
	<1992Nov4.063702.12006@random.ccs.northeastern.edu>
	<LMS.92Nov5011514@rle-vlsi.mit.edu>
	<1992Nov6.050846.21489@random.ccs.northeastern.edu>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 07:09:28 GMT


   In article <1992Nov6.050846.21489@random.ccs.northeastern.edu>
   okidz@ccs.northeastern.edu (Oki D Zakaria) writes:

   In article <LMS.92Nov5011514@rle-vlsi.mit.edu>
   lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu (Luis Miguel Silveira) writes:
   >
   >Shouldn't we (the rest of the world) find out for sure what these
   >"facts" are (for instance by promoting free elections in East Timor)?
   >
   It will be interesting to see stories about East Timor in this newsgroup.

   What is the purpose of that free elections? Choosing a president?
   Indonesians do not directly vote for one. 

The purpose of those elections would be to determine how many of the
people actually support independence from Indonesia and how many are
happy under the Indonesia invasion/tutelage.  If the majority would
support the Indonesia presence, then the problem woult assume an
entirely different perspective.  [If on the other hand the majority
would vote for independence as most non-Indonesian sources seem to
believe/imply, then Indonesia would have an even larger problem in
their hands; this is the reason why no election were ever done or are
scheduled, IMHO].


   It takes time to build Indonesia; a country which the people was exploited
   beyond all recognitions by the Dutch. After 47 years of independence the
   GDP per capita is still ~$500. Don't you think that this has nothing to do
   with the exploitation? 

Yes, Indonesia was exploited by the Dutch.  East Timor *was not*.
That is the main difference and it (maybe) explains why the East
Timorese do not feel they are part of Indonesia.

Even though Indonesia is a misture of different cultures and languages
they have a common recent past.  East Timor does not share that same
past.  In fact the only thing they share with Indonesia is proximity:
they are neighbors.  The main religion is different, so is the
language, so are the costumes and the culture.  And their experience
is different also.

It has been said how Indonesia has all these provinces with different
cultures.  That they all seem quite happy aunited as one country does
not mean that another culture, also different, would necessarily feel
the same way (otherwise you could also add, for instance, Australia as
another province).

   Maybe some East Timorese are not satisfied with what they have now. But,
   why?  Is that because of the slow pace of the development? If this
   is the case, well, the East Timorese are also an important factor.
   If not, what is it?

It is conceivable that they do not feel that they should be a part of
Indonesia.  They never where until 1975, had a completely different
history (for over 400 years).  Maybe they do not feel that "close" to
Indonesia.

But we could find out!

   >And still does not have any interest in East Timor!  Let us make this
   >clear once and for all.  Portugal has merely trying to push for a
   >peaceful solution that is acceptable by all involved parties!
   >
   That's good, and the next thing you have to do is to convince us that
   whatever the Portuguese do, it won't lead to the separation of
   East Timor with Indonesia.

Why is this necessary ?  I believe I asked this question before in
some other post.  Let us for the sake of argument assume that it is a
fact that the majority of the East Timorese do not want to be a part
of Indonesia; that they want to be independent and rule their own
destiny.  What do you think _should_ the Indonesian government
reaction ? 
a) force them to stay within Indonesia even if that is against their will
b) offer for the "unhappy campers" to move somewhere else (for
instance Portugal as it was suggested)
c) grant East Timor independence.

Clearly a) seem somewhat unhuman, specially if the percentage of
unhappy people is large.  b) on the other hand is unpractical (would
you send away say 75% of the population?).  c) is what this majority
would want anyway!

Faced with this hypotetical situation what would you suggest ?

And don't you think we should find out if this majority does exist ?

   In the long run, I believe what Indonesia has done in East Timore
   (the positive ones) would be good for the East Timorese. (Yes,
   there are some glitches, but it doesn't mean that Indonesia cannot
   fix them.)

I am not sure I would consider the November massacre a glitch.  And
besides the reported number of deaths among the Maubere is too much
for a small glitch.  On the other hand the solutions so far presented
by the Indonesian government do not seem to satisfy all parties
involved.  I am just skeptic of Indonesias capability to handle this
situation without further bloodshed...

   No, I didn't mean that. What I want to say is that the East Timor
   was just decolonized, so there is a chance that their opinions would lead
   to something that they could not handle; (IMHO) creating a new country 
   for example. Of course, this doesn't mean the cannot do it at all, but
   instead of having a feeble country, why don't just be with and
   get help from the Indonesian government.

Several interesting point in this sentence.  Yes, being a young and
unexperienced country no doubt the East Timorese would be lead into
situations that they could not handle.  But, Indonesia itself is also
a young country and many times it was lead to situations it could not
handle.  This happens to every new country ans in fact to any newborn.
It is the experince that comes from handling these new situations that
forges the strength of a nation and a people.

As for <<why don't just be with and get help from the Indonesian
government.>>, yes, that would be an option.  But then again they
should also have the option to decide otherwise!  Whichever option
they would choose, Indonesia should always provide their assistance,
as neighboring nation (if they chose to go independent) or as mother
nation (if they choise integration).

It all seems so clear.  Let us hear their choice!!

Best regards.

-Miguel

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Luis Miguel Silveira                            e-mail : lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu
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