Statement by H. E. Ambassador Agus Tarmidzi,
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the UN in Geneva
Under Agenda Item 7
UN Commission on Human Rights, 53rd session, 1997
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation's intervention relates to item 7 of the Agenda on "The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation".
Chapter XI of the UN Charter, UNGA Resolutions 1514 (XV) and 1541 (XV) have clearly put the right to self-determination in the context of decolonization. During the period of the struggle against colonialism, the right to self-determination was viewed exclusively and predominantly in the light of the need to end colonialism and promote the creation of newly independent States. On the basis of this premise, Indonesia has been constitutionally committed to fully support the struggle of the colonized peoples throughout the world, in particular in Asia and Africa. In the same spirit, Indonesia remains committed to render its full support to the struggle of the Palestinian people in exercising their inalienable right to self-determination, to safeguard their national independence and to regain their territorial integrity. The eventual granting of national independence and statehood to the Palestinian people is a prerequisite to achieving the ultimate objective of peace, security and stability for all the peoples and States of the region. Indonesia, therefore, fully support the on-going Middle East peace process and the implementation of all the agreements signed in this context among the parties concerned and the commitments made in accordance with the underpinnings of the process launched in Madrid, in accordance with the UN resolutions, in particular Security Council Resolution 242, 338, 425 and the land-for-peace formula.
Mr. Chairman,
Having suffered from the bitter experience of colonial subjugation for almost three hundred and fifty years and gained national independence through a war of liberation only over just fifty years ago, Indonesia still confronts the legacy of colonialism in the form of ethnic tension mongers, secessionist and separatist agitators. Worse, these elements benefit from both overt and covert foreign backing. Against this background, and in order to prevent the state from breaking up, Indonesia attaches the greatest importance to the freedom, stability, national unity, independence and territorial integrity as the fundamental right of the people.
Mr. Chairman,
With regard the question of East Timor, my delegation has a legitimate question to ask Portugal whether it can still justifiably claim to be the administering power over East Timor after it abandoned the territory? We didn't ask them to leave, on the contrary Indonesia asked Portugal to come back and try to solve the chaotic situation. When Portuguese Governor Limos Perez left Dili on August 26, 1975, he never promised to return. In fact, Portugal practically instigated civil war by clandestinely turning over its arms and ammunitions to one particular group, the Fretilin. In doing so, Portugal in effect relinquished its responsibility as administering power. By failing its responsibility, Portugal has indeed forfeited any right, morally and legally, to still be considered as the administering power in East Timor. I have another submission to this august body: Please consider the facts and assess objectively the historical process, the geopolitical, cultural and economic realities pertinent to the so-called East Timor issue. Geographically, East Timor is the eastern side of an island called Timor. Portugal controlled the whole island until 1618 when the Dutch established a settlement in Kupang on the western side of Timor. The Dutch drove the Portuguese further and further to the east until in 1618 a treaty was signed between Portugal and the Dutch giving Portugal the eastern side and the Dutch the western side. Who gave them the right to divide Indonesian soil? The Timorese who had a long record of uprisings against Portugal and the Dutch had no say at all. Only by understanding its historical facts, can the Commission be in a position to accept the truth that the people of East Timor have duly exercised their right to self-determination, through a process of decolonization fully in accordance with the essence and spirit of the relevant UN resolutions, and that what the overwhelming majority of the East Timorese people really desire is to develop the province in peace and in freedom.
As regards the awarding of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize to Jose Ramos Horta, the Indonesian Government has officially questioned the criteria on the basis of which this prize was accorded to him due to the fact that Ramos Horta formerly was a key leader of the Fretilin, an organization responsible for unspeakable atrocities perpetrated on a massive scale against their fellow East Timorese when they took control of East Timor by force on 28 November 1975. In this regard, Bishop Belo, when he himself was also awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, publicly condemned the brutality of the Fretilin. It is perhaps the ultimate irony that Ramos Horta whose hands are stained with the blood of the victims of the Fretilin's reign of terror, should be recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. For this reason alone, Ramos Horta cannot claim to be a legitimate representative of the people of East Timor. As a matter of fact, formal and informal leaders of the East Timorese have scorned the award given to Horta.
Since integration, Indonesia's sincere intent and full commitment to protect and promote the basic rights of the East Timorese is reflected in its continued efforts toward the accelerated development of East Timor in all aspects of life: economic, political, social as well as in the protection and the promotion of cultural and religious rights. In this regard, it is the policy of the Indonesian government to reject any form of political pressure and extraneous measures such as the common position approved by the European Union on this matter in June 1996. This Indonesian position is fully supported by over 200 million people in Indonesia and by all the member countries of ASEAN and the OIC.
Mr. Chairman,
To conclude, the Government of Indonesia was always prepared to cooperate with the UN Secretary-General to find a fair and comprehensive settlement for East Timor through the tripartite dialogue. But it is equally clear that there can be no turning back of the clock. Decolonization has taken place. Any solution must recognize this fact. This is where the tripartite talks on the East Timorese issue between Indonesia and Portugal began under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General in 1984. We welcome the strong commitment of the new Secretary-General to continue his good offices. His new personal representative, Ambassador Jamsheed Marker, is scheduled to visit Indonesia at the end of this month. In this regard, it is worth explaining to the Commission that twice in 1987 and 1991 such a fair and comprehensive settlement was almost achieved. However, to our regret, Portugal has failed to faithfully comply with the arrangements agreed upon by both sides under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General.