House to hold hearing on E. Timor

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives' Commission I on defense and foreign affairs will invite State Secretary Bambang Kesowo and Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda next week to seek clarification of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to East Timor.

The commission chairman Ibrahim Ambong told journalists on Monday that the topics to be raised would include matters which have been prominently covered by the foreign press, such as the big number of Indonesian security troops deployed to safeguard the President during her four-hour stay in East Timor.

According to him, the huge troops deployment was prone to criticism from both the press, particularly foreign one, and people in the country.

"We would like to know what benefits Indonesia gained from the visit," he said. -- Antara