President to visit E. Timor<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will attend East Timor's
\nindependence declaration on Sunday night despite strong
\nopposition from key elements in the House of Representatives
\n(DPR), a report said.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on
\nTuesday the decision reflected Indonesia's commitment to face the
\nfuture and the reality of the situation.<\/p>\n
\"This trip is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between
\nthe two nations. It also reflects Indonesia's commitment to face
\nthe future while remaining consistent with the reality (that East
\nTimor will become a sovereign country),\" Marty told a media
\nconference.<\/p>\n
He said the primary deciding factor in Megawati's decision to
\nattend the declaration was an invitation from UN Secretary
\nGeneral Kofi Annan and East Timor's president-elect Xanana
\nGusmao.<\/p>\n
Megawati's decision however fails to put an end to weeks of
\nheated debate between national leaders and politicians, who are
\ndivided on whether or not Megawati should go to East Timor to
\nattend the independence declaration.<\/p>\n
Critics ranged from House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais to legislators
\nfrom the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), which Megawati chairs. They argued that Megawati
\nshould skip the declaration on the grounds of unresolved issues,
\nincluding refugees and Indonesia's assets in its former 27th
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
An hour after the official announcement by the foreign
\nministry, chairman of House Commission I for Foreign Affairs,
\nIbrahim Ambong, said he regretted Megawati's decision since she
\nmade it despite opposition from influential legislators at the
\nDPR.<\/p>\n
Ambong said his commission would seek information from either
\nthe state secretary or the foreign minister as to why the
\npresident had ignored its strong opposition.<\/p>\n
Fellow commission member Djoko Susilo of the Reform Faction
\nshared Ambong's sentiments, saying that legislators would
\nquestion what Indonesia would benefit from the trip.<\/p>\n
Foreign policy observer Dewi Fortuna Anwar, however, applauded
\nMegawati's decision to accept the invitation.<\/p>\n
\"It is a clear expression of the country's good intention and
\nwill boost Indonesia's image in the international community,\"
\nDewi told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
She further noted that the decision was a solid first step
\ntoward better relations between the two countries and should not
\nbring any political damage to the president.<\/p>\n
Marty said Megawati would stay for only four hours in the East
\nTimor capital of Dili on Sunday. She would lay a wreath at the
\nIndonesian Military Cemetery on Sunday night and attend the
\nmidnight declaration ceremony at a lake on the outskirts of Dili.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-to-visit-e-timor-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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