The Nobel Prize Committee in Oslo hoped awarding the prize to Bishop Belo and Ramos Horta would 'spur efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict in East Timor based on the people's right to self-determination'. How was the award seen in Indonesia? The last phrase in the citation was intended to hurt the Indonesian government, for whom 'self-determination' and 'diplomatic solution' are codewords for anti-Indonesian hostility. Of course it evoked an instant chorus of condemnation. Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, Secretary of State Moerdiono, Golkar chairman Harmoko, NU representative Nugroho, East Timor Governor Abilio Soares, Army Spokesperson Amir Syarifudin and many others all said how shocked they were, how the Oslo committee had lost its bearings and its objectivity, how the prize would change nothing, and particularly what a bad man Ramos Horta was. One intellectual, Amir Santoso, even suggested it was the Indonesian government, or perhaps its roving ambassador Lopez da Cruz, who deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for delivering East Timor from terrorists. A veritable propaganda war has been unleashed focussing on the 'opportunist' 'adventurer' Ramos Horta, in which the 1993 Wendy Holland story about his ambitions and profligacy, and allegations of his involvement in massacres in 1975/76, have a strong place. However, on the assumption that East Timor's crisis will be resolved by and within Indonesia rather than any other country, it is important to probe beyond this chorus for signs that the prize may move things in a positive direction. One positive sign is that dissident opinion has welcomed the prize for both men. Outspoken sacked parliamentarian Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who has just nominated himself for President (!), said the prize was an invaluable lesson for the Indonesian government by the international community on the consequences of invading other people's territory. Uncensored Internet comment, including (guardedly) from Tempo Interaktif and (openly) from Kabar dari Pijar, has been generally positive. Another positive sign is that even in the mainstream press, Bishop Belo is generally exempted from the storm of criticism. Even Amir Santoso admits Belo is a man of peace. The message 'Belo yes, Horta no' was also put forward by Human Rights Commissioner Marzuki Darusman, think tank CSIS intellectual Kristiadi, and former Muhammadiyah leader Nurcholish Madjid (who was however quoted as saying both ought to return their prizes). In short, it is Belo who will save this prize for Indonesian politics, even if Suharto cold- shoulders him in Dili today. Xanana, unfortunately, has hardly been mentioned. Within Indonesia, a prize for him would have been more effective than one for Horta, as Horta himself has also said. Being imprisoned for his principles, in the heart of Jakarta, the way Sukarno was in the 1930s, Xanana has great symbolic potential as a hero. Indonesian politics are nationalist and xenophobic, and there is no appreciation of the fact that Horta has done a remarkable job in making the bitter enmity of the large East Timorese refugee community in Portugal and Australia diplomatically marketable. Nor is there any appreciation of his role in keeping those East Timorese from engaging in terrorism. Newspaper editorials have varied considerably. The earliest ones - Suara Pembaruan and Media Indonesia - were almost kneejerk in their condemnation and, ignoring Belo, homed in on Horta with images of the 'opportunist' of 'mixed blood', the 'Pied Piper'. Republika tried a little more intellectualism with lengthy quotes from a book on East Timor by Singapore scholar Bilveer Singh (which argues Jakarta's point of view). But later editorials looked problems in the eye and were therefore more constructive. Jawa Pos said Indonesian diplomats would just have to work harder to undo the damage. Kompas acknowledged that Nobel Peace Prizes are given to people who fight against oppressive regimes, said international opinion can't be all wrong, asked why Indonesia was still saddled with this Cold War problem, and hoped something could be done to make the East Timorese happy. On the whole, the prize has certainly had a salutary impact on Indonesian public discourse about East Timor.
Gerry van Klinken, editor, Inside Indonesia magazine.
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