Dutch warned not to internationalize Maluku conflict
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has strongly warned the Netherlands not to internationalize the Maluku conflict because such a course of action could endanger its bilateral relations with Indonesia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab disclosed on Wednesday.
According to Alwi, he conveyed the warning during his meeting last week with Dutch officials and legislators following reports that the Dutch parliament was to raise the Maluku issue at the United Nations.
Alwi then cited the experience of Australia which initially supported Indonesia's sovereignty over East Timor but later became the champion of that territory's efforts to separate from Indonesia.
"I explained to them the consequences of bringing this issue to the UN. We do not want a rift (between the Netherlands and) Indonesia," Alwi said after his inauguration by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the Bina Graha presidential office.
On behalf of President Abdurrahman Wahid, the Vice President swore in Alwi as Foreign Minister.
Alwi was in Europe when the other 25 Cabinet members were sworn in on Saturday.
"The Dutch parliament now fully understands our position," Alwi said of the outcome of his visit.
The Netherlands, Indonesia's former colonial ruler, has a strong interest in the Maluku issue as many who can trace their descent to the islands now live in Holland.
Earlier in the morning Alwi also countered reports that former Dutch foreign minister Van den Broek knew nothing of Abdurrahman's invitation to him to act as an adviser.
Alwi claimed that the government of Indonesia had received the Curriculum Vitae of den Broek from the Netherlands' Minister of Foreign Affairs Van Aartsen.
"So it's impossible that Mr. den Broek knows nothing about it because we have already received his Curriculum Vitae and his letter of appointment will be sent to him soon," Alwi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He further said that Indonesia needs Van den Broek to help explain the situation in Indonesia to the Dutch people so that there will be no doubts as to the government's seriousness in trying to resolve the Maluku problem.
The Indonesian foreign ministry in a statement on Tuesday said Van den Broek knew of the plan as Dutch foreign minister Van Aartsen had told him about it by letter a month ago.
"So, the press reports that Van den Broek was not aware at all about the plan are not true," the statement said.
The issue arose when Alwi in the Netherlands last week said that Abdurrahman had asked Van den Broek to act as his special advisor.
Van den Broek's wife said, however, that her husband's first reaction to the statement was "complete nonsense" and "nobody has asked me for that job".
Van den Broek later said that he recalled that Van Aartsen had told him in May that Abdurrahman was looking for an advisor.
Van den Broek said that he accepted the offer in principle, but added that he would first have to visit Jakarta "to hear from the President exactly what this job entails".
"If Abdurrahman wants me to find a solution to the Maluku problem, then I will see what I can do for him," Van den Broek said last weekend, referring to months of violent Muslim- Christian clashes in the riot-torn province.
The foreign ministry admitted on Tuesday that Abdurrahman had not officially told Van den Broek about the plan as the formal decree incorporating the decision was still being prepared. (byg/dja/prb)