Violence in East Timor

Re “Indonesia Declares Martial Law in E. Timor,” Sept. 7: The moral imperative for doing something to fight thuggery in East Timor is even clearer than it was in Kosovo, where civil war and ethnic hatreds have raged for years. We stood by years ago when Indonesia grabbed East Timor. After years of indifference to the continuing plight of East Timorese, the U.N. suddenly sponsors an election that creates a tragic mockery of the rights of the voters. It then fails to take further action. What has happened to President Clinton’s bluster about the role of the United States in the world community?

At the very least, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund should freeze funding for Indonesia. As for myself, small gesture though it is compared to what our government should do, I will not knowingly buy any items made in Indonesia.

HELENE STONE

Ventura

* So with East Timor--as with Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, etc.--we’re going to wait. Then act too late or not at all. After decades of supporting the criminals who run Indonesia, on what I suppose was the theory that corruption is preferable to communism, we can’t deny some small responsibility for this nightmare. Don’t we have the leverage to end it? Or is it the will we lack? Or, more pitifully, just the ability to make a decision?

I think President Clinton is an intelligent and decent man (perhaps “decent” is not quite the most appropriate adjective), but I want him to tell us now what he’s going to do or at least admit he doesn’t intend to do anything. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s rambling declarations of disapproval don’t cut it. Every day we let go by is a day of unbelievable horror.

PETER GAFFNEY

Los Angeles