JOSE RAMOS-HORTA

October 25, 1996
		Jose Ramos-Horta, exiled East Timorese resistance leader and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, responds to viewer questions and comments.

Forum introduction Can Western human rights concerns overcome commercial interests? What is the motivation behind Indonesia's interest in East Timor? How can you capitalize on the attention the Nobel Prize has brought? How can you convince Indonesia to pull out? How would an independent East Timor support itself? Are the East Timorese committed to democracy? Was East Timor a part of pre-colonial Indonesia?   Online NewsHour Special Report: The Crisis in East Timor Online Backgrounder: Behind East Timor's conflict with Indonesia. Nov. 13, 1996: A discussion with Jose Ramos-Horta. Oct. 11, 1996: Two East Timorese dissidents win the Nobel Peace Prize. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Asia.

Loren Ryter of Seattle, WA asks: What has been done and what can be done to convince Indonesia that an autonomous or even sovereign East Timor poses no threat to Indonesia and that such a status for East Timor would actually be in accordance with Indonesia's own principle of anti-colonialism? Furthermore, what are the implications of the recent crackdown in Indonesia against many of the Indonesian students who have supported the right of the East Timorese to self-determination (ie SPRIM, etc) for future Indonesia-East Timor relations?   Jose Ramos-Horta responds: We and so many others have made this point time and time again. We have tried to be sensitive to the legitimate concerns of Indonesia, but the problem is not so much a perception of threat to Indonesia as the fear by those responsible for the enormous blunder and mishandling of the East Timor problem that the truth will come out and haunt them. We can only hope that there will be a fundamental change in Indonesia leading to a change in perceptions by power elites, or a change in power elites with better perceptions. The recent crackdown on pro-democracy supporters in Indonesia is regrettable. However, it will not change the situation for the Suharto dictatorship. If anything, by closing all avenues for dissent, it will only ensure that the ultimate showdown is even stronger when it finally comes. The regime has only bought itself a little more time, without addressing any of the causes of the present generalized malaise in Indonesia. Very close links are being forged at present between East Timorese and democratically minded Indonesians. The common suffering of the oppression of the Regime is only serving to strengthen these bonds further, on the basis of shared experiences. When the dissidents of today come to power in the Indonesia of tomorrow, their existing friendship with the East Timorese will greatly help fostering the harmonious relationship between our two peoples. We are neighbors and members of a regional family.