A question of sincerity

Subject: “Indonesia and Timor Leste: Redefining Relations for the Future”. Place: Flores Room, Hotel Borobudur. Time: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 14:00 – 16:00. Host: Presidential Spokesperson, Indonesian Council on World Affairs, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. Speaker: Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Mood: Speech and Impressed audience despite the dull Q & A session dominated by officials and academics. Only one important question, among the most ordinary, was asked by a researcher questioning the prime minister’s real commitment towards fostering relations with Indonesia. It went unanswered. Instead, smooth talk about the speaker’s relations with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, his 62 years of age and equating himself and his political experience with other leaders of Asia. The rest was body language, no real content and short of what a real lecture was supposed to be. We are not against the prime minister to improve relations with Indonesia. After all he has said that Bahasa Indonesia will be taught in Timor Leste schools, Timor Leste will have military cooperation with Indonesia and Timor Leste wants to learn from Indonesia how to achieve self-sufficiency. But underneath all that, there is still a question of sincerity. There are still basic problems which need to be solved first. Timor Leste President Ramos Horta’s groundless allegations that “Indonesian elements” were involved in an assassination attempt on his life on February 11, 2008 have yet to be proved. And he owes Indonesia an apology. Although the prime minister has expressed regret over the issue and called on Indonesia against blowing up the issue for the sake of good relations, the hurt feelings of the Indonesians remain (can’t imagine how top senior journalist Desi Anwar feels). Regret and apology are two different things. Regret is used in invitations while apology is humbly admitting making a mistake and ask for forgiveness. But Horta, as head of state and the leader of Timor Leste arrogantly dismissed claims he had accused Indonesia. It was on the record. And he stood firm he was misquoted by the press (that many times?). The prime minister only conveyed Ramos Horta’s regret (what a double standard!). And alas, Indonesian officialdom was deaf and blind in seeing this reality. It failed to accommodate aspirations and feelings of the people and the press. Timor Leste should respect Indonesia as a big brother. Once again we have been outwitted by both Ramos Horta and Xanana Gusmao. Old wounds have yet to be healed and now Ramos Horta’s manipulative intrigue will continue to be seen as a thorn in relations between Timor Leste and Indonesia.