Otherwise Maladroit

September 1999 Reaction Paper: Indonesia

September 1999

Reaction Paper: Indonesia

There are three things that shape the world. Three powerful things that determine the life and death of a human being. Three irresistible things that can cause the flight of morality, and conscience from any logical man. And these three things are: beefsteak, stilettos, and a Mickey Mouse hat (the one with ears).

Since time immemorial, well at least since the creation of Mickey Mouse, it has been these things that have determined society, as we know it. It was not religious fervor, but bland beefsteak, that launched a thousand ships in Spain and Portugal. It was not in fatherly interest that a certain favorite dictator controlled the assets of "his" nation, but the insistence of his wife to import the latest in flashing disco stilettos. And good will hardly determine the intention of a modern day weapons-dealer-slash-global-cop, but the ingratiating howl of a bratty offspring obsessed with Disneyland. The simple folk will never understand that the "pillars" of the international community tolerate their being target practice to trigger-happy, gun-totting thugs, because it provides the luxuries craved by its bureaucrats.

It is ridiculous, and revealing that the UN, the US and the other countries that pledged to protect the outcome of the August 30 referendum, lamely waited for Indonesia to present a solution to its East Timor problem. The people of East Timor voted for their independence under the security of international scrutiny and approval, or so as they were promised. In a moment of brilliant clarity, the imposition of martial law in East Timor was given forty-eight hours to prove its viability. Imagine that, asking a rat to guard freshly laid eggs. If the Philippine administration had enough bone marrow to meekly mention the name "Marcos" then maybe things would have been different.

One thing that Jose Ramos-Horta should know is that it's all about packaging. If he had drawn comparison, no matter how sheer, between East Timor and Vietnam to Jane Fonda's fans in the US, then he might have drummed up support for the intervention of a peacekeeping force. He should also try going to the sectors securely tied to the Vatican, such as the Cubans, and other Latinos living la vida loca in the US, and emphasized the Christianity of the East Timorese. And when he visited the Philippines he should have repeatedly pointed out the political role of "holy" men like Cardinal Jaime Sin, and 1996 co-Nobel prize awardee Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, to gain the Cardinal's following that supported his anti-cha-cha effort. He should have exploited the flattering effects of patriotism to his would-be patrons.

You see, human rights violations are old news. It's like Madonna's underwear, there is a limit to its shock-value. In the Internet there are oodles of guts captured in full color from tortures conducted by pro-integration militia in East Timor. When the conflict between Indonesian Muslims and Chinese, reached the point of systematic rapes of Chinese women, there were explicit, stomach-turning pictures of it on the Net. Yet still, silence.

So Mr Horta, stop harping about blood, it doesn't go well with our MTV.

Indonesia is a melting pot of problems gnawing at the future of Southeast Asia. The successive events in that troubled area, is like a mini-scenario of all the issues in our region. The animosity between Muslims and Christians, the ever-present Red spectre hiding in the mountains, student demonstrations, the Chinese grip in the economy, and issues about a colonized past.

But all these are nothing to the victims of conflict, who are forced to rapidly politicize. To them political, and social dynamics caused by ideologies, beliefs, and prejudices weigh nothing to the question of their immediate future. "Will I live?" is the foremost, and probably the only, pressing occupation of their exhausted minds. And this is a question that should have been answered swiftly, and definitely. If the UN is truly a sincere peacekeeping global entity then it should have answered unthinkingly, without hesitation, "Yes!" to that question.

But the delay of a UN decision, confirmed fears that the so-called global community is just a farce. World peace is hype, and former Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell, was taken in the UN fold for bare commercial reasons.

And then, there is Megawati Sukarnoputri. What will this woman do for Indonesia? So far, she has drifted in the ocean propelled by the popularity of her surname. She has, however, taken time to browbeat President B.J. Habibie for his exemplary lack of political finesse, but since they are of opposing factions this is neither surprising, nor notable.

There are speculations that the antics of the Indonesian military are a message to Megawati. Us in power, yet you in name. Others say that former-president Suharto is not out of the game yet, and that General Wiranto is not the real power behind the military. The violence could be an ironic way of absolving Suharto for his human rights violation charges.

But Megawati may have her own interests. Interests, as dictated by her American advisers. She may be pulling off a Cory Aquino on the Indonesian people. The Indonesians, being more interested in economic recovery, may accept Megawati and sacrifice the existence of the ethnic minorities.

Either way, she will get her seat on top of the heap. All she has to do now is bide her time, while continuing to be ambiguous.

posted by Otherwise Maladroit @ 5:16 PM