The people of East Timor have spoken out through the public referendum held in East Timor on Aug. 30. The message is loud and clear. They have chosen a path of independence over unification with Indonesia. This referendum, the last public referendum before the end of this century, is a milestone international event. It therefore constitutes an invaluable learning experience for Taiwan, which is in a situation somewhat comparable to East Timor.
Portugal gave up control of East Timor in 1974 because of political turmoil at home. Due to the power vacuum created by the withdrawal of its colonial ruler, East Timor lurched into a brief civil war. Fearing that East Timor might become the Cuba of Southeast Asia, the US and Australia condoned Indonesia's takeover of the territory in 1975.
Oppression by Indonesia subsequently fueled the East Timor independence movement. When the Suharto regime in Indonesia disintegrated in 1998, the resulting power vacuum in Jakarta gave East Timor a shot at independence. After continued international pressure, the Indonesian government consented early this year to a referendum in the territory.
The power vacuum in Indonesia, along with international support, played a significant role in bringing about East Timor's referendum. However, without the struggle of the East Timorese for their independence, East Timor's plight would not have become a focal point of international attention.
Let us also look at Kosovo as an example. Kosovo fought hard for independence during the power vacuum created by the disintegration of Yugoslavia. However, the international community does not necessarily support Kosovo's independence and draws the line at ending Milosevic's policy of ethnic cleansing. Another example is Chechnya's struggle to secede from Russia. These examples teach us that, without the right timing and international assistance, a struggle for independence inevitably entails a bloody war.
In contrast, the three small Baltic republics -- Latvia, Lithusania and Estonia -- and the five central Asian republics -- Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzebekistan -- were able to peacefully achieve independence after the disintegration of former USSR. This example proves that a power vacuum and international aid are two fundamental conditions for independence.
After East Timor becomes independent and ends its colonial past with this referendum, it faces even more critical challenges ahead. Foremost among these problems are ending an internal feud between pro-unification and pro-independence forces and stimulating the economy.
Once a people determine their national identity, they take on a powerful instinct for survival. This is the "elan vital" (vital spirit) emphasized by the French philosopher Henry Bergson. A vital spirit based on self-determination enables a young country to bravely master its destiny and take on external challenges.
This concept is also consistent with historian Arnold Toynbee's proposition that historical progress comes from self-determination. We see this vital spirit in both Israel and Singapore on their path to independence. We also see a hope for the future in East Timor's referendum.
Lawrence Hu is an editorial writer at the Liberty Times.
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