The Reason And Impact Of East Timor Referendum To
Indonesia's Bargaining Position Regarding The Human Right
Issue In International Forum
Agung Y. Nugroho, M.A
The debate on the referendum administration given to the people of East
Timor in 1998 by President Habibie raises the pros and cons. For Indonesian
people referendum granting an unpopular decision and consider the Habibie
government failed to maintain the integrity of the unitary state of the Republic of
Indonesia and Habibie also considered to be more concerned with the opinions of
western countries especially the United States and Australia. As for the
international community, giving Indonesia a referendum is a step forward towards
a more democratic state.
Giving the referendum becomes a dilemma for his administration. At the
domestic level further eroded the legitimacy of the Habibie government, because
Habibie assumed to have no constitutional right to give the option to the East
Timor referendum. Habibie was considered only as a transitional president. While
the amount of pressure from the international community on human rights forced
President Habibie to immediately determine a stance on East Timor.
One of the most prominent human rights cases is the Santa Cruz event.
This case stems from a shooting incident that made the military against protesters
at the Santa Cruz cemetery, this is the incident that tarnished the name of
Indonesia in the eyes of the International. From this incident precisely what later
became the springboard appointment cases of human rights violations in East
Timor. International pressure, especially from Australia and the United States on
cases of human rights violations in East Timor was then forced Indonesia to issue
a policy in an effort to accommodate the aspirations of the people of East Timor.
And encourages the Government of Indonesia to bring the issue of East Timor to
Indonesian Government in June 1998 finally decided to give the widest
possible autonomy for East Timor. However, the proposal on the special
autonomy has not solve the problem because there are many pressures from
within and outside the country of East Timor to self-determination. This forced
President Habibie to give a referendum to the people of East Timor to
self-determination and is done directly. The poll ended with a victory for the
pro-independence East Timor. East Timor won sovereignty as a nation on May 20,
2002 Although the referendum successfully implemented but there were riots
between the pro-independence and pro-integration in East Timor are not satisfied
with the results of the referendum. The impact of this unrest adds to criticism
from the international community that led to the embargo on Indonesia in the field
of weaponry by the United States and the increasing tension relationship with
Australia.
Habibie underlying decision to give a referendum on East Timor in
addition to the international pressure on human rights issues as well as to gain
international confidence as part to get away from the multi-dimensional crisis in
1998. The impact of this decision on the basis of external International confidence
lifted over Indonesia from the crisis and make Indonesia get international
recognition as a democratic country and uphold human rights.
In the context of rational choice, any choice of policy and political elite in
the government, was influenced by motives of profit and benefit themselves from
the perpetrator (the political elite), which is not uncommon across the values of
democratic reform. It is shown how the United States and Australia in the position
they would put dualism East Timor. From this it can be understood also the
overlap between personal motives and interests of political pressure imaging
missions in the nation image and nation put their interest, it is referred to by
Barbara Geddes as "political dilemma". Elite in the government is not free from
this sort of dilemma. Geddes stated that the behavior of the state as the end result
of a rational choice made by officials who have personal interests, which act in a
and the pressure exerted by Howard to Indonesia to East Timor issue in line with
the opinion of the Geddes.
Habibie action that gives East Timor a referendum to occur due to
international pressures, especially from Australia, where John Howard was able to
persuade Habibie in making the decision. Howard managed to combine two
conflicting government policies which on the one hand supports the independence
of East Timor and at the same time trying to avoid a war with Indonesia.
Indonesian conditions are unstable due to the multi-dimensional crisis that
requires time Habibie to ignore domestic opinion to defend East Timor. Habibie
see more support from the international community has a meaning in the escape
from the economic crisis by restoring international confidence in Indonesia, with
the aim to attract foreign investors to return to Indonesia. In this case the
economic improvement in prioritizing to address the financial crisis in Indonesia.
Habibie see the huge burden of the state in allocating funds for East Timor
is very large. State budgets bear 93% of East Timor where it is much different
from state aid to other provinces. The allocation of funds from the state intended
to build the 27th province of the area 14 609 km ². Disburse state funds and fund
local development sector amounted to 350.7 billion and Rp 602.4 billion to
encourage progress in East Timor. From these funds can increase social welfare,
reducing the illiterate people, paving the way, until the construction of the hospital
infrastructure. When East Timor will hold a referendum, the state still issued a
budget allocation of Rp 187.3 billion for the development of the province, city,
village, and social safety nets, as well as to reduce poverty. This is what makes
East Timor a lot of drain on state expenditures.
Status of East Timor when it is still being debated internationally makes
many countries choose to be dualism will address the problems that occur in East
Timor. Likewise with the United States in addressing the problem of East Timor
with extreme caution. United States is not easy to interfere in the settlement of the
problem of East Timor, the East Timor problem solving is highly dependent on
the dynamics of domestic politics where the political will of the Government and
anti-integration. Besides the problems in East Timor is not only Indonesia, Portugal
and the UN Secretary General to play, but many other units in the small scale such
as the Church, the people of East Timor itself both inside and outside Indonesia.
United States was considering the rewards and benefits of the problems of
East Timor. United States put their position on the “gray area” where they will
take the role or action that may benefit them without having to sacrifice their
image at the international level. Indonesia itself in the eyes of the United States is
a country that is becoming quite lucrative trading partner for the United States,
especially in the field of weaponry. With the occurrence of human rights
violations in the polls post-East Timor in 1999 America then gained momentum to
pressure Indonesia to the embargo.
In the United States embargo on Indonesia itself also refers to many
human rights violations in East Timor since 1991 where there is large-scale
massacres committed by Indonesian soldiers in the Santa Cruz incident in Dili
East Timor. Human rights issue has become taboo and sensitive issue for the
United States so that they do not have the choice to impose the embargo sanctions
against Indonesia. The purpose of the embargo is to provide a deterrent effect to
Indonesia so that no human rights violation happened again. Reward is in the can
by the Americans on the issue are those who remain consistent imaging to uphold
the human rights issue. While this slight difference between the loss and not the
financial benefits that will be in the can by the United States. Reward obtained by
Americans over the issue are those who remain consistent imaging to uphold the
human rights issue. While this is contrary to the financial losses that would be
obtained by the United States.
The United States is considering the loss of the embargo against Indonesia,
which is where America is a big supplier of weapons to Indonesia. United States
saw the seriousness of Indonesia to address the human rights issues seen from the
programs that will pro-human rights issue announced by Habibie, so Americans
saw embargo against Indonesia just merely temporary deterrent effect. United
new nation benefits. United States itself does not necessarily lose their market
share with the embargo on Indonesia.
Finally, on November 23, 2005, the United States lifted embargo against
Indonesia. Letters lifting the embargo was enacted by President George W. Bush
and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice while in Mongolia, and the letter was
signed by the Secretary of State Secretary of the United States. The background of
this revocation is because Indonesia has a strategic role in Southeast Asia,
especially ASEAN and Indonesia is considered as the representative of the
Islamic world which at that time rife backgrounds Islamic terrorism, and
Indonesia is considered by the United States played a role in addressing the
problem of terrorism. Besides, it is more important is that Indonesia has been able
to take an active role in addressing human rights in Indonesia and even moreover
Indonesia has been recognized as a democratic state with a background of poll
