The MoJo Wire asked some longtime observers and participants in the East Timor independence movement the following question:

Q: Is the Indonesian government sincere about allowing the East Timorese to determine their own fate?

Xanana Gusmão
Jailed president of the National Resistance Council for an Independent East Timor (CNRT), serving a 20-year sentence for treason against Indonesia.
A: In principle, we want to believe, above all, in the civilian component of the government and in the TNI reformist faction. However, the government has no control over TNI, and that is why the pro-status-quo forces -- who do not accept the agreement signed in New York on May 5, recognizing the East Timorese people's right to self-determination -- continue to perpetrate violence in East Timor.

Before May 5, they were doing so to prevent the agreement from being signed. After, they pursued their campaign of terror to obstruct the process. The pressure from the international community forced them to resort to other, less blatant intimidation methods to ensure that the population would vote in favor of the autonomy plan proposed by the Indonesian government. It is clear to everyone that General Wiranto either cannot, or does not, want to control the situation on the ground, hence the continued orchestrated violence in the territory.

As for us, we are determined to do all we can to ensure that the people of East Timor can exercise their right to determine their own future freely and democratically. This is what we have been fighting for during the last 23 years.

José Ramos-Horta
Nobel Peace Prize-winner and exiled East Timor independence leader
A: The formal speeches uttered by the Indonesian government regarding the fate of East Timor are very reassuring ... however, their actual behavior on the ground shows a whole different attitude. The Indonesian President B. J. Habibie seems to be genuine in wanting to resolve the problem of East Timor. He sees it only as an unnecessary burden and diplomatic embarassment for his country. However, the real power in Indonesia is the Indonesian army (TNI), and they have not shown any desire to allow the people to decide their future in a free and democratic manner.

The TNI has done what it knows best and that is to use terror tactics to intimidate the people of East Timor into voting for remaining with Indonesia. Even the presence of a large number of international observers do not seem to be enough to deter them.

Militia groups recruited in Indonesian West Timor from among criminal gangs in Kupang and Atambua and as far away as Jakarta operate as TNI's surrogate army in its dirty war against East Timor.

At least 60,000 East Timorese villagers have been displaced by the terror campaign and are being held as hostages by the criminal gangs with the active complicity of the Indonesian army.

Millions of dollars are diverted from Indonesia's "social safety net" to fund the propaganda war and the dirty war in East Timor while the World Bank and Western governments continue to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Indonesia's coffers to rescue its economy from total collapse.

John M. Miller
Outreach/Media Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
A: The answer depends on which part of an extremely Indonesian government you mean. President Habibie and Indonesia's foreign minister signed the UN accords May 5, setting up a vote in good faith. They added up the costs and benefits of staying in East Timor and recognized the need to resolve the issue if they were to retain international support -- support needed if the government is to survive its current economic and political crisis. They also recognized that they may be out of office soon and by settling East Timor they might find a place in history. I also think they believed -- contrary to most analyses -- that the East Timorese would vote to stay in Indonesia.

However, others, especially within the military, are intent on sabotaging the UN-organized process. They opposed the UN agreements for various reasons -- refusal to admit defeat, economic interests, concern that an example will be set for regions of Indonesia proper. They want to scuttle the vote or manipulate the outcome. They have funded, armed, and trained paramilitary militias that have intimidated and assaulted ordinary East Timorese and pro-independence activists. These groups have killed several hundred in the last few months and created 50,000 internal refugees. In recent weeks, they have begun to attack UN offices and personnel. The UN, journalists, and human-rights groups have all reported clear evidence of direct cooperation between the Indonesian military and police and the militias.

The political leaders of Indonesia who profess a commitment to the UN process have so far refused to call to account those who seek to undermine it. If they were truly serious about allowing the East Timorese a choice about their political future, they would fire or transfer those responsible for undermining the process, especially the Indonesian-appointed governor and the police and army commanders in East Timor. These officials have repeatedly violated the UN agreements and cannot be trusted to carry out Indonesia's commitments. If the nations of the world -- including the US -- that are supporting the UN process both financially and politically are truly serious, they would immediately end all military transfers and training and international loans to Indonesia.

Photo courtesy of East Timor Action Network