Megawati lashes out at foreign trip critics<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, now in Algeria, defended her
\nmuch-criticized foreign visit to several countries, saying that
\nshe would go ahead with the trip despite the controversy at home.<\/p>\n
\"It is my job to reintroduce Indonesia, which has been out of
\nthe international political spotlight due to the prolonged crisis
\nin the country over the last four years,\" the President said at a
\nmeeting with some 60 Indonesian citizens in Algiers, the capital
\nof Algeria, late on Friday.<\/p>\n
Megawati said that Indonesia needs to be active to resume its
\nrole in the international forum because its foreign policy was
\nbased on freedom and independence.<\/p>\n
\"The House of Representatives has been so outspoken that the
\nforeign trip has raised pros and cons among its members. Some
\nhave said I should not have made the trip as it is a waste of
\nmoney and that it would be a picnic,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Megawati and her entourage, including her husband Taufik
\nKiemas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Wirayudha and several
\nother ministers, are on an unprecedented four-day visit following
\nher attendance at the Johannesburg Summit in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Many sides, including a number of legislators, criticized the
\nforeign visit because she was leaving behind a number of problems
\nat home, mainly the plight of tens of thousands of Indonesian
\nillegal workers stranded in Nunukan, East Kalimantan. So far, the
\ndeath toll has reached 70. Poor living conditions and the
\noutbreak of diarrhea in town are to blame for the high number of
\ndeaths.<\/p>\n
The President argued that she embarked on the foreign visit to
\nfulfill invitations from several countries having good bilateral
\nties with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The invitations should not be turned down. Upon my arrival
\nhome, I will share the results of the foreign visit,\" she said.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that her annual foreign trips over the last
\ntwo years have cost about US$22.8 million (Rp 205 billion).<\/p>\n
From Algiers, Megawati and her entourage are scheduled to
\ncontinue on to Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia and Egypt. The President
\nis slated to arrive home on Sept. 14.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-lashes-out-at-foreign-trip-critics-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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