Timor timur, Satu Menit Terakhir: Catatan Seorang Wartawan
(East Timor, One Last Minute: A Journalist's Note)

Cordula Maria Rien Kuntari, Journalist, Kompas Daily, Jakarta, Indonesia

Covering conflicts areas is a daily task for Rien Kuntari, a journalist of Kompas Daily, Jakarta, Indonesia. She has been entering into the most dangerous battlefields, such as Rwanda, Iraq, and Cambodia. However, covering East Timor is the most difficult, the most dangerous, but at all once, also the most impressive.

There is no other choice for a journalist, than to implement "covering both sides", the basic dictum of journalism. This obligation put her in a dilemma. As an Indonesian, she was directly suspected as pro-autonomy. Contrarily, her capability in accessing key figures of CNRT, caused her of being suspected as a pro-independence activist. Suspicion in the midst of conflict is in the edge of ravine death.

This book is a journalist's note on dramatic events of referendum in East Timor 1999 - a significant moment in the history of Indonesia. Written in a bravery spirit of a "martyr", honesty of a true journalist, and deepest sincerity of a "human kind" - a true human being, it is not exaggerated to say that this book is a humane documentary.

"The capability of Mbak Rien's elegantly moving from formal to informal, giving details and articulation on the real situation of East Timor at that time," - LetGen TNI (Ret) Agus Widjojo.

"This book is not just a 'figment', nor the work of an expertise opportunist journalist, but a tangible experience of a press fighter and a patriot, motivated by her love to both nations, under the spirit of brotherhood, Indonesia and Timor Leste." - Xanana Gusm?o, Prime Minister of Timor Leste.

"Rien Kuntari is a journalist who has entered into harsh and brutal areas. However, she is a woman. No matter how cruel and brutal the conflict is, she can always see in her perspective of softness, tenderness, and honesty of a woman to humanity. Conflicts and brutalities will always be cries and tears in her heart which is easily struck by sufferings. That is why her journalistic report on the dramatic moments of East Timor referendum 1999 is so beautiful, touching, but also straining. Reading this book, we are brought into the deepest heart of humanity that long for love, loyalty, peace, and harmony even in the midst of cruel and brutal conflict." - Sindhunata, journalist, Chief Editor of Basis Magazine, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

CM RIEN KUNTAI (Cordula Maria Rien Kuntari) is a journalist for Kompas Daily, Jakarta, Indonesia, since 1991. Covering international issues, diplomacy and Indonesian foreign policy until 2004, gave her a chance to make journalistic visits to more than 50 countries in Asia, Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East. She was a war correspondent for Gulf War (Iraq 1991), Rwanda (1994), Iraq Referendum (1995 and 2002), Cambodia Peace Process (1996), Cambodia Demining of Landmines (1996), East Timor until its independence (1992-1999-2002). She is a presidential reporter in the era of Soeharto, BJ Habibie, and Abdurrahman Wahid. In the recent years she is dealing with humanity's affairs. She is a lecturer for Sekdilu (Sekolah Dinas Luar Negeri/Basic Foreign Service Course) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and a Journalistic Trainer for South East Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), British Petroleum (BP) Indonesia and some other companies. Rien is interviewing Xanana at Falintil Head Quarter, Remixio, Aileu, East Timor.

For current Yale SEAS Seminars and Events schedule, see: http://www.yale.edu/seas/Events.htm