House to hold hearing on E. Timor

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