Megawati cheers Timor Lorosae's independence<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Bracing strong opposition from hardliners at home, President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri made a brief visit to Timor Lorosae on
\nSunday to attend the country's declaration of independence.<\/p>\n
The visit, which has drawn strong criticism from politicians
\nand war veterans in Jakarta, signals a new chapter in relations
\nbetween the two countries, which turned sour when thousands of
\nmilitary-backed militias went on a bloody rampage after the
\nterritory's population overwhelmingly voted to break away in a
\nUnited Nations-organized referendum in 1999.<\/p>\n
Megawati and her entourage arrived at Comoro Airport at 10
\np.m. local time, and were greeted by president-elect Xanana
\nGusmao, United Nations Transitional Administration chief Sergio
\nde Mello, Indonesia's top representative in Timor Lorosae Kristio
\nWahyono and UNTAET-appointed foreign minister Ramos Horta.<\/p>\n
Her entourage included Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister
\nfor People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla and Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nHassan Wirayuda.<\/p>\n
After a brief reception at the airport, Megawati traveled in
\nthe same car with Gusmao to the Seroja Hero's Cemetery, where
\nsome 300 civilian Indonesians and military personnel, killed in
\nkeeping Timor Lorosae's integration in Indonesia, are buried.<\/p>\n
Megawati laid flowers on six graves and stayed there for
\naround ten minutes. She was accompanied by Gusmao. Reporters were
\nprevented from entering the cemetery, which is located in a Dili
\nsuburb.<\/p>\n
Outside the cemetery, two dozen protesters held a candlelight
\nvigil, demanding Megawati punish those responsible for war
\ncrimes.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should not forget the brutality of the Indonesian
\nsoldiers,\" said protest organizer Tommy Xavier, AP reported.<\/p>\n
\"They raped our women and made many people disappear.\"<\/p>\n
After visiting the cemetery, Megawati left for Toci Tolo on
\nthe outskirts of Dili to attend Timor Lorosae's declaration of
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Thirty minutes before midnight, Megawati arrived at the venue
\naccompanied by Gusmao. They held hands and raised them aloft, as
\nthe crowd cheered and clapped.<\/p>\n
Megawati's visit was, however, tainted by the presence of six
\nwarships stationed near the Bay of Dili, and one Air Force
\nHercules C-130.<\/p>\n
A joint task force of 2,000 Army, Navy and Air Force personnel
\nwere deployed to Dili to safeguard Megawati during the historic
\nvisit, a move that drew criticism from Timor Lorosae officials.<\/p>\n
Her visit also drew criticism from politicians and war
\nveterans pending the resolution of certain issues such as
\nrefugees in West Timor and Indonesia's assets in the new nation.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Seroja Operation veterans and widows burnt their
\n\"hero's medals\" on Sunday to protest Megawati's attendance in the
\nindependence celebration.<\/p>\n
More than 200 war widows and veterans staged a noisy but
\npeaceful rally at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday, demanding
\nMegawati cancel her trip to Dili.<\/p>\n
The veterans said Megawati's visit to the Indonesian soldiers
\ncemetery would not quell their anger over the historic trip and
\nTimor Lorosae's independence.<\/p>\n
Sgt. Maj. (ret) Soekoro, who heads a veterans' association,
\nbased in the Seroja military housing complex in East Bekasi, said
\nthe President's visit to the cemetery was merely a \"political
\nmove\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-cheers-timor-lorosaes-independence-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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