Time to forgive and move on, says ex-Fretilin commander

Dicky Christanto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Nusa Dua, Bali   |  Wed, 07/16/2008 12:29 PM  |  Headlines

Waiting in the middle of a crowd whose language they hardly understood was not the only reason Antonio Soares and Ernesto Dudu were feeling awkward.

The two men were in the Timor Leste delegation. But they waited outside the hall where everyone was paying serious attention to the official hand-over of the report of the joint Commission for Truth and Friendship.

Every once in a while, the two exchanged smiles.

"I am proud to be a living witness of an event that has ended all grudges between us, East Timorese and Indonesians, after all these years," Ernesto Dudu said in Tetum, a local language in Timor Leste, through a translator.

"Therefore it is time to forgive and move forward," he told The Jakarta Post.

Dudu said he could not speak Indonesian fluently. He recalled that for some 16 years he had spent much of his time in the jungle, fighting the Indonesian military as a member of the military wing of the Fretilin Party since 1975. One of the commanders was the current Prime Minister Kayrala Xanana Gusmao, who was captured and detained in Indonesia.

The guerrillas were once known for militant attacks on Indonesian troops, killing many of the better-equipped soldiers.

When asked why he had joined Fretilin's guerrillas, Dudu said it was mainly the idea of freedom that lured him, as he said many Timorese had experienced abuse under the Indonesian administration.

"Despite some sacrifices I fully realized that this was the cost of freedom," he said.

The "cost" was the loss of five children and 10 other relatives during the war. He also said he used to have to refrain from showing bitterness to his fellow countrymen who had appeared to take sides with the Indonesian government.

The other Timorese waiting outside the hall was Antonio Soares, a civil servant for the Foreign Ministry. He said he held the same job under the Indonesian administration.

He said he was lucky none of his family members or relatives became victims of the 24-year-old conflict in Indonesia's former 27th province.

"Even though I was lucky, it was still painful to know that so many neighbors and countrymen died for no clear reason," he said.

Today, he said many are ready to forgive one another even though they were from different camps -- those for and against separation from Indonesia.

"Many families who used to be separated by ideology are right now embracing their brothers and sisters with stretched-open arms," he said.

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Ken Westmoreland (not verified) — Tue, 07/22/2008 - 2:24am

It appears that some Indonesians are in denial about what the military regime did in East Timor, but then again, many Japanese are still in denial about what their governments did in China and Korea, seventy years on.

Yes, of course Jakarta put considerable investment into East Timor's infrastructure, but for whose benefit? That of the indigenous population, or that of the military, the bureaucrats, and transmigrants, who expressed racist sentiments similar to Mohammad Ali has done about Africans?

Of course there are many East Timorese educated in Indonesia, who have Indonesian friends, because they know that there is a difference between the Indonesian people and the Soeharto regime, and that not all Indonesian ways are bad, like KKN. However, now that they are an independent state, they have the opportunity to look beyond both Indonesia, and forge ties with other countries in Southeast Asia.

Being able to accept criticism of one's country is not unpatriotic, it is a sign of maturity.

Mohammad Ali (not verified) — Wed, 07/16/2008 - 10:41pm

Indonesia is going through some tough times and need to come with its own terms. For all of those that still see the Abri/TNI responsible for the East Timor incidents, from 1975 till 1999, I ask them to go to the Seroja Memorial at Cilangkap, and see how many names of dead Indonesians soldiers, all the best of their generations, inscribed in the walls of the memorial. For those un-patriotic Indonesians, like Mr. Hendardi, should see that not only East Timorese but also Indonesians were the victims of all the trouble and humiliation Indonesia had to face during its term in East Timor. It tried to bring development to East Timor, education and prosperity. Before 1975, East Timor was a forgotten land, far from the administrative power of Portugal, illiterate, poor and animist. By 1999, Indonesia had invested billions of dollars in East Timor, building infrastructure, schools, universities, economy, and brought many East Timorese to study in various schools in Java, Sumatra, Bali and Makasar. The East Timorese Catholic Church evolved, from 40% to 98%, but still some nations accused Indonesia trying to Islamize East Timor. Now many high ranking East Timorese Government Officials are the product of Indonesian tahu and tempe, Indonesian Universities, and Indonesian rice. But now they turn their backs to their friends, teachers, and try to turn around the facts.

Did the so called Militias kill hundred of people during the chaotic September 1999? Yes, but they were East Timorese trying to fight for a better future than East Timor is facing now.
Did the Abri (not TNI) help the Militias? No, they merely shut their eyes and let the East Timorese take the problem into their own hands. Besides, Fretilin was an armed wing, and was receiving arms from helping Australia at that time.
Did the Militias raped and tortured other East Timorese? I doubt it, it wasn’t worth the effort. East Timorese are not like Africans or sexually driven Americans, which rape all woman they can find.
Has the Indonesian Government of Today accept the responsibilities of the Past Government? No, put the blame on Habibie, on Wiranto (I heard he is going to be the next Indonesian President), and in the hands of all Indonesian Government officers, either civilians or military nor police, that held their job in Indonesia (not just in East Timor), and bring them to justice. That would be a couple thousand people, and by the pace the International Court brings its cases to justice, it could take a couple hundred years to trial all involved. Or a Nuremberg type of Tribunal, where we can hang Habibie, Wiranto, Ramos Horta and Xanana, as well as hundreds of other MILITIAS, ABRI, POLRI, and FRETILIN personnel.
Or we could just call it a day, acknowledge that we all suffered (specially the ones buried in all Heroes Seroja Cemeteries around Indonesia and their families), and proceed with the bright future. After all, Soeharto has died, so it is improbable to call him to court. It seems that the two nations were doomed to live side by side, and it will be Indonesia, not Australia, Portugal not USA, that will always face its neighbors from time to time. Lucky for East Timorese, many of them were taught the Indonesian ways, and still have personal relations with their friends back in Yogyakarta, Malang, Salatiga, Semarang, Denpasar, Makasar, Manado, Ambon, Jakarta and even Medan. Lets just live as civilized nations, put away the past and face the future.

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