Indonesia, East Timor seal border accord amid Susilo visit
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post/Dili
Indonesia and East Timor announced on Friday an agreement on territorial borders as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono began his two-day visit to the country's former colony.
Witnessed by Susilo and East Timor's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and his East Timorese counterpart Ramos Horta signed the agreement after it was discussed by the leaders of the two nations.
"I'm pleased that we have agreed to temporarily resolve the border issue. This is possible because both governments and peoples are determined to improve relationships," Susilo told a joint news conference with Alkatiri.
Alkatiri said the agreement was considered temporary because the two nations still disagreed on the remaining 4 percent of border areas that separate East Timor from the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
"We are optimistic that the remaining border issues can be resolved soon. The agreement shows goodwill on the part of both sides to enhance the relationship," he said, asserting that good relations with Indonesia was essential.
Separately, Ministry of Foreign Affairs' director for Asia Pacific affairs Hamzah Thayib said the remaining unresolved border problems covered three locations between NTT and East Timor, which are delineated by a river.
"There is a problem in resolving these borders because the river banks move closer to Indonesia during the dry season, but shift to East Timor during the wet season," he said.
Hamzah said this made it difficult for the two countries to accurately measure their territories and install border poles.
After the signing of the temporary accord, Indonesia will immediately install poles along those borders areas already agreed upon by the two countries.
The border demarcation deal was one of the last problems to be resolved between Dili and Jakarta.
Susilo's visit to East Timor, his first since taking office last October, went smoothly without any unpleasant incidents, as had been speculated by certain foreign media.
With great enthusiasm, local people flocked Dili's streets to welcome Susilo.
Nicolai, a local rental car driver, said President Xanana Gusmao had appealed to East Timorese people not to stage any demonstrations during Susilo's visit, and repeatedly urged them to forget the past and to start a new relationship.
"I heard that there was going to be a protest by local people to demand compensation for their services as government officials when East Timor was still part of Indonesia. But it was canceled at Xanana's request," Nicolai said.
As a mark of respect to local people, who are mostly Catholic and are observing the funeral of Pope John Paul II, Susilo decided to cancel a state dinner with East Timorese leaders scheduled for the evening.
Susilo will instead have lunch with Xanana on Saturday at the latter's residence in Balibar, Dili.
Also on Friday, Susilo observed the construction of Xanana's future official residence in Lahane, Dili, and planted a "tree of friendship" in the front yard of the luxury house.
The Indonesian president is slated to visit the Santa Cruz Cemetery on Saturday as a gesture to bolster reconciliation between the two countries.
On Nov. 12, 1991, Indonesian troops opened fire on hundreds of protesters who were staging a procession in the cemetery to honor pro-independence activist Sebastio Gomez, who had been killed a week earlier by the Indonesian military.
More than 200 people were believed to have been shot dead in the massacre, prompting the United States to restrict arms sales to Indonesia and suspend training of Indonesian soldiers.