From: lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu (Luis Miguel Silveira)
Subject: Re: Re : Re : Re : View from Timorese Resistance
Reply-To: lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu
Organization: Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of
	Technology
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 22:44:52 GMT



   In article <1dpr0jINN8b6@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
   ck345@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Wira Putra) writes:

   First of all, I want to know ... what do you Portugeses want by
   attacking us Indonesians about East Timor in this newsgroup ?

You must not judge the whole by its parts.

I do not want to attack anyone (I can only speak for myself as I have
no mandate from anyone else).  I merely wanted to ask your (collective
and individual) opinions on the subject and see how aware you were of
the situation in East Timor.  No doubt many others wanted the same.
It seems mots of the Indonesians were not very well aware of the
situation (I am not claiming we or I know everything about it either).

   Do you have any source(s) in your government to give the result
   of this discussions ?

Not being in Portugal I do not have quick and easy access to the
portuguese media.  My understanding is that the Portuguese government
is trying to meet the Indonesian government and find a solution for
the problem.  The Portuguese government has always said that the East
Timorese should be present at these meetings.  The Indonesian
government does not agree to this.  They (Portuguese, Indonesian) have
met quite a few times (under the auspices of the UN and otherwise) to
try and reach a _preliminary_ agreement.  This agreement would lead to
the discussion of the situation (I mean the purpose of these meetings
is not to directly find a solution but instead to start the process
that may eventually lead to one).

   Proof of Indonesian is accepting by many countries :
   1. Last September in Jakarta, Indonesia, there was a Summit of 
      Non-Block countries.  App. 108 countries attended the Summit.
      Why in Indonesia ... ?  
      I think, I should not answer this question !

Nobody doubts Indonesia is accepted by many countries.  I cannot even
see why you use this example.  Why, even Portugal recognizes Indonesia
and wants to meet with its government.  However the fact that the
Summit was attended by X many countries and was even held in Indonesia
is by no means an indication (much less a proof) that these other
countries agree with Indonesia in all matters (including Timor).  It
has been said before that apparently only Australia has claimed its
support (most of us believe they did it in order to be able to jointly
explore the oil in the East Timor sea, but that is another story).
Every other country who has expressed its opinion of the subject has
not supported the Indonesian invasion [that is my understanding].

   2. After the Summit, all countries agreed that President Soeharto
      will give the speech at the UN as a representative of Non-
      Block countries.
      Why President Soeharto .... ?
      Again, I should not answer this question !

Maybe as a courtesy to the host country?  I cannot see why this has
any bearing.  You actually want to say that this means that all these
other 108 countries support Indonesia wholeheartedly?

   3. Giving the speech in the UN, there was no demonstration at 
      the UN when Indonesian delegation come to the UN as usual.
      Why .... ?
      I just want to say ........ incredible, man !

This is actually quite incredible, specially given that just about any
other press conference or gathering that involved the Indonesian
government has met with substatial demonstrations and press barrage.
But again, what is this supposed to substantiate?

   4. Minister of Foreign Affair from Portugal and Indonesia met 
      the UN Secretary General at his office.  And Portugal and 
      Indonesia will meet again in December but ... without 
      representative from East Timor.
      Isn't it you guys can't influence other countries to push
      Indonesia about East Timor ?

This one is plain silly (no personal offense intended, please).  Of
course they met without East Timor representatives.  The Indonesians
would not accept it!  The choice would be not to meet (and keep the
status quo (actually would be the easy way out for Portugal who could
claim their efforts were not accepted by the Indonesian governments).

These meetings are supposed to lead to an agreement that will
(hopefully) lead to a larger broader-based meeting which (again
hopefully) will have representatives from the East Timorese).

   Well .... It's up to you.  I just don't want to see this news-
   group talk about East Timor.  Let our government decide about
   it, ok ?

I have not seem many posts about East Timor that have not been
answered.  This means there is a flow of conversation and information.
In this as in any other newsgroup anyone is free to speak about any
topic (contained within the chart of the group).  The fact that there
have been posts about East Timor means that people want to discuss it
(and the discussion has been quite civilized, but for a few
exceptions, IMHO).

   Thank's for reading my post.

Thank you.

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