Habibie's speech gets mixed reactions

JAKARTA (JP): An account of the government's policy on East Timor given to the House of Representatives in a plenary session on Tuesday by President B.J. Habibie met with mixed reactions from various circles.

A number of legislators who tried to interrupt the plenary session criticized the President's speech, and said his explanation failed to answer questions around the East Timor debacle.

The President defended his policy in a one-hour address, pointing out that the government's decision to offer the East Timorese special autonomy or separation from Indonesia was designed to set Indonesia free from international pressure.

"Speaking frankly and wholeheartedly, I have done what I can do, which I believe is the best for our beloved nation's future," he said.

He said that in entering the 21st century, Indonesian should be free from international pressure.

"As an official who is the most responsible for a comprehensive solution to the East Timor issue, I will take account for all decisions I have made in the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)," he said.

Habibie asked the House to respect the outcome of the Aug. 30 self-determination vote, which showed that the vast majority of East Timorese wanted to be free from Indonesian rule.

He also hoped that the new MPR would accept the aspirations of the East Timorese.

The President deplored Australia's reaction to the East Timor issue and warned he might have to accommodate the majority of Indonesian people's sentiments against Australia.

"The government will take into account the prevailing views among the majority of the people against the recent attitude and behavior of Australia on East Timor," the President said.

But he reiterated the importance of good relations between the two countries for the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Ade Komaruddin, Ferry Mursidan Baldan and Ali Yahya, legislators from the ruling Golkar Party faction, raised their hands to interrupt Habibie's explanation. But all three were ignored by House Deputy Speaker Abdul Gafur, who presided over the plenary session.

The three House members banged their table to attract Gafur's attention, but the latter bowed his head and rapped his gavel to declare the plenary session over.

Sutoyo NK, another Golkar legislator, said after the hearing that several Golkar legislators were advised before the session not to interrupt the meeting.

"I saw a number of Golkar House members being briefed and told not to interrupt the plenary session. This apparently was a conspiracy between Gafur and the Golkar faction's leader," he said.

He said he was very disappointed with the way the plenary session was held because legislators were not given any opportunity to ask questions of the President.

Sutoyo, former director general of political affairs at the home ministry, said he could not accept the President's speech because it was only an endorsement of his East Timor policy.

"Speaking frankly, the President's speech is unacceptable ... The country under Habibie's one-and-a-half-year administration has lost one province. We will lose five or six other provinces if he leads the country for the next five years," he said emotionally.

Ferry said he was dissatisfied with Habibie's speech because the President treated East Timor as a minor problem that could be solved in just three months.

"The speech failed to cover all pertinent issues. The President did not touch at all upon the victims of violence after the ballot," he said.

Aisyah Amini, who chairs House Commission I for security and defense, said there was nothing new in Habibie's explanation because her commission had gained similar explanations from Minister of Defense and Security/Military Commander. Gen. Wiranto and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.

Bachtiar Chamsyah, a United Development Party (PPP) legislator, said that Habibie's explanation fell short of revealing all the underlying reasons behind the government's policy.

But Gafur hailed the meeting with Habibie, pointing out it was first time a president had explained his policy to the House regarding a serious issue.

"We want such a hearing to be made a tradition in the future," he said.

Yusuf Syakir, a deputy chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, also said there was nothing new in the president's speech.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) expressed regret over Habibie's unilateral decision to allow East Timor to determine its future.

"The government's decision was a time bomb which is still exploding in the form of criticism, indignity and demonstrations. As part of the nation, PDI Perjuangan feels humiliated by the presence of a multinational force in our territory," Sabam Sirait, PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman, said.

Separately, Amien Rais, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) hailed Habibie's speech, saying the government's policy was the best way to solve the East Timor issue once and for all.

Amien called on the Indonesian Military to withdraw its troops totally from the territory and hand over it to the UN. (rms/05/prb)