Subject: WP: Timorese Look Past Monday's Elections
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 10:18:46 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
The Washington Post Sunday, June 6, 1999
Timorese Look Past Monday's Elections
August Referendum on Independence Overshadows Historic Indonesian Vote
By Atika Shubert Special to The Washington Post
VIQUEQUE, Indonesia—The square in this remote town in the troubled province of
East Timor is festooned in yellow party flags and a cheerful reminder is posted at the
headquarters of Indonesia's ruling party, Golkar: "Don't forget to make your choice
on June 7!"
Golkar's local legislative candidate in Indonesia's first attempt at a free and fair
election in more than 40 years is Eurico Guiterres, the commander of a pro-Indonesian
militia who perfected his leadership skills in an assault last April on Timorese
independence activists that killed 12.
One local resident, Edina Gomes Amaral, 32, can't resist openly laughing at the
prospect. "Why should we participate in elections? What will they do for us?"
she said. "The only candidate for Viqueque is a well-known murderer and you want us
to elect him?"
Most Timorese are concentrating on the U.N.-monitored referendum in August that will
determine whether the troubled territory will gain independence, 23 years after Indonesia
invaded this former Portuguese colony.
There has been an increase in violence by pro-integration militias threatened by the
prospect of independence.
[On Saturday, the first wave of 1,300 anti-riot police took up positions in East Timor.
They will assist the 5,000 regional police and Indonesian soldiers in seeking to halt the
violence between nationalist militias and separatist rebels.]
With paramilitary leaders like Eurico on the ballot, there is little surprise that many
East Timorese say they would rather not vote Monday. Only 50 percent are registered and,
residents say, many are civil servants pressured by nationalist groups into voting for
Golkar.
About 2,000 East Timorese rallied last week in their capital, Dili, to support
presidential frontrunner Megawati Sukarnoputri, who has said her party does not support
the Aug. 8 ballot and may seek to reverse the tripartite agreement signed in May by
Indonesia, Portugal and the United Nations. Local party members here said that turnout
shows that East Timorese may be ready to choose autonomy over independence, but only if
Megawati leads the new government.
"I'm in favor of a delay, because if we look at the timing, we have an election on
the 7th of June, then we have a referendum on the 8th of August," Megawati said in a
recent interview. "I favor that the parties involved come to an agreement for a
resolution and to set the actual date for when the referendum should be held, after the
new [parliament] meets."
Provincial party leader Ronny Hutagaul said, "Megawati says, 'Look at the real
problem. Develop East Timor first and respect human rights. Let's treat each other as
equals.' "
Independence leaders disagree. They say people sympathize with Megawati for her
long-standing opposition to former president Suharto, saying her stance was central in
bringing an end to his 32 years of authoritarian rule last year.
People are confused, however, by Megawati's East Timorese supporters campaigning for
independence. Using posters of jailed independence leader Xanana Gusmao, supporters
frequently scream "Long Live a Free East Timor!" as they campaign.
"If Mega can't accept a popular decision by the people, then she shouldn't be
participating in these elections," said Leandro Isaac, a senior member of the
independence group Council for East Timorese Reconciliation. "She's very
contradictory and her statements don't ring true in the eyes of democratic people."
Ironically, pro-integration leaders, many of whom formerly backed Suharto, are finding
themselves supporting Megawati's policies. When Suharto's protege and successor, B.J.
Habibie, decided in January to offer East Timor wide-ranging autonomy or cut the territory
loose, Megawati denounced the policy as invalid.
"Megawati supporters that want independence are on the wrong track," said
pro-integration spokesman Basilio Araujo. "She could call off negotiations and
everything could change."
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