I agree with your editorial of June 22 on the latest peace attempt made by Indonesian President Bacharuddin Habibie with regard to East Timor.
Your views accurately reflect the feelings of the people of East Timor. The Timorese people have not fought all these years just for some sort of autonomy. They want the freedom to choose their own destiny. The Indonesian Government must understand that for the vast majority of East Timorese, development is not the issue; after all Portugal did little in the way of development during its period of colonisation. What they care about, over and above everything else, are justice and freedom.
Indonesia now has a unique opportunity to accept it was wrong to invade East Timor and through this public acceptance begin to rebuild its reputation in the region and internationally.
NELSON SANTOS Macau
