Why Megawati should go<\/p>\n
Geopolitical reasons dictate that President Megawati
\nSukarnoputri should be present in Dili on the occasion of the
\nindependence of Timor Lorosae and the installation of President
\nJose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao. The fact of life is that an
\nindependent state, formerly the 27th province of the Republic of
\nIndonesia, will be born on the island of Timor, which is within
\nthe geopolitical realm of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
There are many reasons for saying that this development need
\nnot have happened. But we have only ourselves to blame for the
\nfact that despite all our good intentions and social-political
\ninvestments in that former 27th province, after serious upheavals
\nthe United Nations, as manager, is preparing it for independence.
\nThe important decision that Jakarta has to make at this stage is
\nto develop a strategic view concerning Timor Lorosae in the sense
\nof transforming it into a good neighbor, and not a potential
\nsource of problems. President Megawati's presence in Dili on May
\n20 to take part in the festivities welcoming the birth of the new
\nnation and state is meant to underline that strategic decision. A
\nnumber of items should be addressed in laying the foundations of
\na mutually beneficial relationship between Jakarta and Dili.<\/p>\n
First, whatever residual problems are still unresolved as a
\nconsequence of the changed status of East Timor should be
\ncomprehensively resolved. A number of meetings have been held
\nbetween Indonesia and UNTAET (the United Nations Transitional
\nAdministration for East Timor) to discuss the problems inherited,
\nsuch as the status and financial obligations to members of the
\nIndonesian civil service in the former province, the status of
\nthe assets of the former Indonesian provincial administration,
\nthe status and obligations to students from East Timor who
\nstudied under Indonesian state scholarships in various
\ninstitutions of higher learning in Indonesia and a number of
\nrelated issues.<\/p>\n
We suggest that Jakarta be magnanimous and not waste time
\nbickering over trivialities, especially with regard to the East
\nTimorese students. We strongly recommend that the Megawati
\ngovernment continue to finance their studies and after their
\ngraduation offer them the free opportunity to return to Timor
\nLorosae. They will be our best investment to underpin good
\nneighborly relations. We would also like to suggest that
\nPresident Megawati in going to Dili should carry with her at
\nleast three programs to be offered to President Xanana Gusmao's
\nnew government.<\/p>\n
First, a program to sustain the teaching and thriving of the
\nIndonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia), which by now is a working
\nmeans of social communications in Timor Lorosae. Megawati on the
\noccasion of her visit could perhaps donate a few thousands copies
\nof the Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (General Dictionary of the
\nIndonesian Language) published by Balai Pustaka in Jakarta. This
\ndictionary is a reliable work of reference for the Indonesian
\nlanguage that is still being taught in some schools in Timor
\nLorosae. Megawati could also offer the services of at least a few
\nhundreds of teachers of the Indonesian language and literature to
\nwork in Timor Lorosae as part of the Indonesian assistance
\nprogram. There are strong reasons why we should promote the
\nteaching of the Indonesian language in Timor Lorosae since it
\ncould function as an effective instrument for good bilateral
\nrelations.<\/p>\n
Second, President Megawati should offer a modest program of
\nassistance in agricultural development to the new Xanana
\ngovernment. During the Indonesian administration of East Timor
\nsome innovative agricultural programs were introduced in that
\nformer 27th province. A small Indonesian agricultural mission
\ncould assist Timor Lorosae in laying the foundations of a
\nsuitable agricultural base.<\/p>\n
As a third item of assistance we would like to suggest that
\nPresident Megawati offer her counterpart in Dili the services of
\na small team of Indonesian specialists with long experience in
\nnegotiating energy contracts based on the Indonesian concept of
\nproduction sharing. It is in Indonesia's interest that Timor
\nLorosae should benefit from its energy resources so that it will
\nnot become an international basket case.<\/p>\n
As a matter of fact, the need to develop good relations with
\nTimor Lorosae was succinctly promulgated by an Indonesian
\ndiplomat, Ms. Musma Musa Abbas, during an UNTAET World Bank
\ndonor's meeting on East Timor in June 2000 in Lisbon. Among
\nother things, she stated that:<\/p>\n
\"Over the long term and in anticipation of a post-UNTAET East
\nTimor, Indonesia seeks the establishment of durable, wide-ranging
\nand mutually beneficial links with East Timor. The promotion of
\ntrade and investment as well as cooperation in the socio-cultural
\nfield will be central to this effort. Equally important is the
\ncreation of conditions conducive to the interaction of the people
\nof East Timor and the people of the neighboring Indonesian
\nprovince of Nusa Tenggara Timur (West Timor). For the legal and
\npolitical separation of East Timor from Indonesia cannot erase
\nthe reality of centuries-old social and family links between the
\npeople of East Timor and Nusa Tenggara Timur (West Timor). Such
\nlinks must be nurtured and made to flourish.\"<\/p>\n
It should therefore be clear that the need for President
\nMegawati to go to Dili needs no longer to be questioned. The
\nimportant thing is to formulate the geopolitical foundations that
\ncan explain why it is in Indonesia's long-term interest to
\nestablish a stable relationship with Timor Lorosae. It might also
\nbe highly advisable for President Megawati on her way home to
\nJakarta to stop over in Kupang to explain those reasons, both to
\nthe local administration and to the community at large.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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