Towards a Peaceful Solution in East Timor
By Jose Ramos Horta
Produced by the East Timor Relief Association
PO Box 23, Fairfield NSW 2165
67 pp.
Review by Jon Lamb
This booklet aims to improve awareness of and international support for the peace proposals of the East Timorese resistance, the National Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM). Jose Ramos Horta, special representative for CNRM, first outlined the peace initiative to the European Parliament in Brussels in 1992.
This new edition was produced following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Horta and Bishop Ximenes Felipe Belo, two East Timorese who have devoted their lives to the cause of their people.
It includes Horta's speech accepting the prize in Oslo in December as well as a number of speeches and lectures over recent years which focus on international developments and their impact on the East Timorese struggle for independence. The main points of the CNRM initiative are elaborated, as well as possible initiatives to jump-start the peace plan.
Imprisoned resistance leader Xanana Gusmao, along with Horta and others, has repeatedly stated that the CNRM is ready to enter into negotiations with the Indonesian government, under the auspices of the United Nations and without preconditions. The Suharto regime has consistently refused to do so.
The CNRM peace initiative envisions three phases: human rights and humanitarian aid; autonomy from five to 10 years; and, finally, self-determination.
Phase one involves confidence-building measures between Indonesia, Portugal and East Timor, with the demilitarisation of East Timor over six months, leaving a maximum of 1000 Indonesian armed forces. All political prisoners are to be unconditionally released and political activity allowed.
Phase two would involve the establishment of an autonomous state and elections for a territorial assembly under the auspices of the UN. Political parties would be legalised, the remaining Indonesian troops would be withdrawn, and Portugal and Indonesia would normalise relations. At the end of the second phase, the autonomous status of the territory could be extended by mutual accord.
The final status of the territory would be determined in phase three. If all parties agree, this phase would come into effect immediately and the UN would prepare a self-determination referendum. This would be followed by internationally supervised elections for a constituent assembly and the formation of a government of national unity.
Horta makes a number of references to the Israeli-Palestinian agreement on self-government, comparing and noting similarities with the CNRM peace initiative. He states, "The most salient political element in the two documents is that both the CNRM initiative and the [Israeli-Palestinian agreement] freeze discussion and decision on the final status of the respective territories and postpone a decision to a later stage".
Indonesia, at present, is receiving patronage from the US in order to maintain "stability and security" — "stability" against radical democratic peoples' movements and "security" for investment and strategic concerns. This has been the basis of the relationship between Indonesia and the US since Suharto came to power.
While the US has voiced "concern" over human rights in Indonesia and East Timor, the Suharto regime has yet to become unpalatable for the Clinton administration or the huge US-based corporations which extract super-profits from the Indonesian economy.
The development of the pro-democracy movement in Indonesia comes at a crucial time for the East Timorese struggle. Horta and Gusmao have commented on several occasions that the East Timor issue will be easier to resolve once Suharto is gone.
If Suharto and his cronies are to be ousted, solidarity and human rights organisations internationally must increase their support of the Indonesian pro-democracy and East Timorese independence movements. Until greater domestic pressure is placed on governments in the US, Canada, Australia, Britain and Germany — Suharto's major supporters — young Timorese and Indonesians will continue to be arrested, tortured and murdered.
The Peace Prize award to Horta and Belo marks an important step forward for the East Timorese struggle. As Horta puts it: "We are as determined as we are optimistic about our future". For an overview and understanding of the CNRM peace initiative, this is an indispensable book. Copies can be obtained from ETRA on (02) 9891 5861 or your nearest East Timor solidarity group.