Dutch warned not to internationalize Maluku conflict
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)