Indonesia pushes for new pacific forum<\/p>\n
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Reuters): Indonesia on Wednesday
\ninvited New Zealand to join a new regional forum that Jakarta is
\npromoting and which would include its former territory East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
On the first visit to New Zealand by an Indonesian leader in
\n29 years, President Abdurrahman Wahid said the proposed West
\nPacific forum could help soothe tensions between Jakarta and East
\nTimor, which voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999.<\/p>\n
Pro-Indonesian militia went on the rampage after the vote,
\nkilling more than 1,000 people, and East Timor is now run by the
\nUnited Nations as it prepares for independence next year.<\/p>\n
The West Pacific dialogue group, in addition to Indonesia,
\nEast Timor and New Zealand, would include Australia, the
\nPhilippines, Brunei and Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said it could be a good
\nplace to air other regional concerns, such as Irian Jaya, where
\nIndonesian forces are fighting secessionist rebels.<\/p>\n
"We've indicated today that we would like to be part of such a
\ndialogue," she told reporters after a one-hour meeting with Wahid
\nin Christchurch.<\/p>\n
"It could also be a forum where we share ideas on how to deal
\nwith some of the issues arising in the most eastern part of
\nIndonesia, Irian Jaya, where there has been some considerable
\nviolence and where we would like to see a peaceful resolution."<\/p>\n
Wahid also pushed the idea of a West Pacific forum as he
\npassed through Australia before heading to New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Commentators said the group could serve as a counterbalance to
\nthe South Pacific Forum, which does not include Indonesia. Many
\nSouth Pacific Forum members sympathise with the secessionist
\nmovement in Irian Jaya, which is part of Melanesia.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Wednesday, Wahid arrived in Christchurch in
\ntorrential, freezing rain after saying in Australia he would call
\na state of emergency if foes seeking his impeachment kept on
\nbadgering him.<\/p>\n
The frail 60-year-old Muslim cleric was given a traditional
\nwelcome by Maoris on New Zealand's South Island before holding a
\none hour meeting with Clark.<\/p>\n
Just as Australia had done, Clark pressed Wahid to ensure army
\nofficers and militia leaders are punished for atrocities
\ncommitted in East Timor two years ago.<\/p>\n
She also raised the death of Private Leonard Manning, killed
\nand mutilated on patrol near the West Timor border last July, and
\nthe first New Zealand soldier to die in action in about 30 years.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Alwi Shihab said that
\nIndonesia was trying it best to find and sentence the killers.<\/p>\n
"Rest assured there is a commitment to bring to justice the
\nperpetrators," Shihab said.<\/p>\n
Wahid flies to Darwin in Australia's tropical north on
\nThursday, and then on Friday to Manila.<\/p>",
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