Govt told to ignore talks on East Timor in Manila

JAKARTA (JP): Three members of the House of Representatives (DPR) are urging the government not to raise a strong protest about a conference on East Timor in Manila later this month because it would only attract negative publicity.

The government should not react emotionally to the planned conference or try to prevent Indonesian scholars and activist from attending, the Antara news agency reported, giving the views expressed by three members of Commission I which deals on foreign affairs -- Abu Hasan Sazili, Theo Sambuaga and Aminullah Ibrahim.

"We will only be presenting them with material that they will use to further discredit Indonesia," Antara said quoting one of the House members.

Indonesia urged Manila this week to stop the conference because it was being used as a platform by people opposed the integration of East Timor with Indonesia. The conference is to be held at the state University of the Philippines.

Sazili said Indonesia should not force Manila to do something which their constitution and political system would not allow.

"It would be better for the Government of Indonesia to campaign to the world about the progress in East Timor instead of reacting emotionally to the planned conference," he said.

Theo said Indonesia should not be overtly concern about the conference because it is not likely to have any major impact in the Philippines, let alone the world.

He added that the presence of Indonesian scholars or activists could neutralize the impact of the conference.

Aminullah said the government should support the non- government organizations which have been invited to attend the conference.

Meanwhile, the Philippine consulate in Manado, South Sulawesi, yesterday was visited by 10 executives of the local Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) who protested at the planned East Timor conference in Manila, Antara reported.

The KNPI delegation presented a petition to consul general Grescente Relacion. (emb)