Mega may go ahead with E. Timor visit<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite objections from legislators, President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri will likely go ahead with her plan to attend the
\nproclamation of independence of the Indonesian former province of
\nEast Timor on May 20.<\/p>\n
\"Should nothing major happen between now and May 20, President
\nMegawati will continue with the plan to go to East Timor,\"
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Susilo made the statements after attending a ceremony at
\nMerdeka Palace for the installation of Vice Adm. Bernard Kent
\nSondakh as the new Navy Chief of Staff and Vice Marshall Chappy
\nHakim as the new Air Force Chief of Staff.<\/p>\n
Megawati's plan to attend the proclamation of independence of
\nEast Timor has sparked debate as many legislators at the House of
\nRepresentatives and People's Consultative Assembly advised her
\nagainst attending.<\/p>\n
The rejection to the plan has been caused mainly by the dark
\nhistory and hurt feelings of many Indonesians by the loss of the
\nformer province whose people voted for independence during the
\nUN-sponsored ballot in August 1999.<\/p>\n
The separation left a lot of unfinished problems, especially
\nafter the mass violence allegedly involving Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) personnel after the vote, which led many TNI officials to
\nbe brought to court on charges of gross human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
No less than House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and Assembly Speaker
\nAmien Rais suggested that Megawati postponed her plan because of
\nthe many unresolved problems between Indonesia and East Timor.<\/p>\n
Both Akbar and Amien warned the President of the wounds
\nIndonesia had suffered due to East Timor's secession.<\/p>\n
Amien said it would be premature for Megawati to insist on
\ntraveling to Dili, even though he later changed his mind and left
\nit to the President to decide for herself whether to go to East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of House Commission I for foreign
\naffairs, expressed regret on Thursday over the President's
\ninsistence on traveling to Dili.<\/p>\n
He said his commission would seek an explanation from foreign
\nminister Hassan Wirajuda because the legislators had recommended
\nthe President not to go there.<\/p>\n
\"We will seek an explanation behind her decision at a hearing
\nwith the foreign minister,\" Ambong told the press here on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
He reiterated the legislators' preference for the government
\nto send a ministerial level official. \"This doesn't necessarily
\nmean that we don't recognize East Timor's independence,\" said
\nAmbong of Golkar faction.<\/p>\n
A similar objection was aired by the TNI\/National Police
\nfaction. \"Our stance is clear and final,\" Budi Harsono, chairman
\nof TNI\/Police faction, said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Budi shared Ambong's remarks that the President should send a
\nministerial level official as a representative of the Indonesian
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"We don't intend to discuss it again now as we had talked
\nabout it earlier,\" Budi said.<\/p>\n
Sucipto, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said on Thursday that his party had
\nno official stance on the President's plan.<\/p>\n
\"However, whatever decision is made by the President, we will
\naccept it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, a member of the House
\nCommission II on law and domestic affairs, hailed Megawati's plan
\nto visit East Timor on ground that it would show the magnanimity
\nof this nation.<\/p>\n
\"We have to show that we look to the future and fulfill the
\ninvitation of East Timor,\" said Lukman.<\/p>\n
Susilo contended that the plan to leave for Dili was based on
\nnational interests in which for security reasons it would be
\nbetter to have friendly relations with a close neighbor like East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
\"For the sake of security in our own country and in the region
\nit would be better that we keep good relations with East Timor,\"
\nSusilo remarked.<\/p>\n
Susilo further said that maintaining good relations with East
\nTimor would also keep the international community from
\nundermining Indonesia, especially after the difficult separation
\nwith the former province.<\/p>\n
\"The visit will not be a threat to our dignity, ... but it
\nwill be an advantage for the future of our foreign policy,\" the
\nretired four-star general reiterated.<\/p>\n
\"The presence of President Megawati will symbolize the stand
\npoint of Indonesian foreign policy that looks to the future for
\nour national interests and stops looking at the past,\" Susilo
\nadded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-may-go-ahead-with-e-timor-visit-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}