Habibie's speech gets mixed reactions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An account of the government's policy on East
\nTimor given to the House of Representatives in a plenary session
\non Tuesday by President B.J. Habibie met with mixed reactions
\nfrom various circles.<\/p>\n
A number of legislators who tried to interrupt the plenary
\nsession criticized the President's speech, and said his
\nexplanation failed to answer questions around the East Timor
\ndebacle.<\/p>\n
The President defended his policy in a one-hour address,
\npointing out that the government's decision to offer the East
\nTimorese special autonomy or separation from Indonesia
\nwas designed to set Indonesia free from international pressure.<\/p>\n
\"Speaking frankly and wholeheartedly, I have done what I can
\ndo, which I believe is the best for our beloved nation's future,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said that in entering the 21st century, Indonesian should
\nbe free from international pressure.<\/p>\n
\"As an official who is the most responsible for a
\ncomprehensive solution to the East Timor issue, I will take
\naccount for all decisions I have made in the upcoming General
\nSession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Habibie asked the House to respect the outcome of the Aug. 30
\nself-determination vote, which showed that the vast majority of
\nEast Timorese wanted to be free from Indonesian rule.<\/p>\n
He also hoped that the new MPR would accept the aspirations of
\nthe East Timorese.<\/p>\n
The President deplored Australia's reaction to the East Timor
\nissue and warned he might have to accommodate the majority of
\nIndonesian people's sentiments against Australia.<\/p>\n
\"The government will take into account the prevailing views
\namong the majority of the people against the recent attitude and
\nbehavior of Australia on East Timor,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
But he reiterated the importance of good relations between the
\ntwo countries for the promotion of peace, stability and
\nprosperity in the region.<\/p>\n
Ade Komaruddin, Ferry Mursidan Baldan and Ali Yahya,
\nlegislators from the ruling Golkar Party faction, raised their
\nhands to interrupt Habibie's explanation. But all three were
\nignored by House Deputy Speaker Abdul Gafur, who presided over
\nthe plenary session.<\/p>\n
The three House members banged their table to attract Gafur's
\nattention, but the latter bowed his head and rapped his gavel to
\ndeclare the plenary session over.<\/p>\n
Sutoyo NK, another Golkar legislator, said after the hearing
\nthat several Golkar legislators were advised before the session
\nnot to interrupt the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"I saw a number of Golkar House members being briefed and told
\nnot to interrupt the plenary session. This apparently was a
\nconspiracy between Gafur and the Golkar faction's leader,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said he was very disappointed with the way the plenary
\nsession was held because legislators were not given any
\nopportunity to ask questions of the President.<\/p>\n
Sutoyo, former director general of political affairs at the
\nhome ministry, said he could not accept the President's speech
\nbecause it was only an endorsement of his East Timor policy.<\/p>\n
\"Speaking frankly, the President's speech is unacceptable ...
\nThe country under Habibie's one-and-a-half-year administration
\nhas lost one province. We will lose five or six other provinces
\nif he leads the country for the next five years,\" he said
\nemotionally.<\/p>\n
Ferry said he was dissatisfied with Habibie's speech because
\nthe President treated East Timor as a minor problem that could be
\nsolved in just three months.<\/p>\n
\"The speech failed to cover all pertinent issues. The
\nPresident did not touch at all upon the victims of violence after
\nthe ballot,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aisyah Amini, who chairs House Commission I for security and
\ndefense, said there was nothing new in Habibie's explanation
\nbecause her commission had gained similar explanations from
\nMinister of Defense and Security\/Military Commander. Gen. Wiranto
\nand Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar Chamsyah, a United Development Party (PPP)
\nlegislator, said that Habibie's explanation fell short of
\nrevealing all the underlying reasons behind the government's
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
But Gafur hailed the meeting with Habibie, pointing out it was
\nfirst time a president had explained his policy to the House
\nregarding a serious issue.<\/p>\n
\"We want such a hearing to be made a tradition in the future,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Yusuf Syakir, a deputy chairman of the Supreme Advisory
\nCouncil, also said there was nothing new in the president's
\nspeech.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) expressed regret over Habibie's unilateral decision
\nto allow East Timor to determine its future.<\/p>\n
\"The government's decision was a time bomb which is still
\nexploding in the form of criticism, indignity and demonstrations.
\nAs part of the nation, PDI Perjuangan feels humiliated by the
\npresence of a multinational force in our territory,\" Sabam
\nSirait, PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman, said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Amien Rais, chairman of the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN) hailed Habibie's speech, saying the government's policy was
\nthe best way to solve the East Timor issue once and for all.<\/p>\n
Amien called on the Indonesian Military to withdraw its troops
\ntotally from the territory and hand over it to the UN.
\n(rms\/05\/prb)<\/p>",
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