Indonesia to present long wish list to Powell
Indonesia to present long wish list to Powell
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian government has prepared a long wish list to
deliver to the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will be
here on a three-day visit until Sunday.
The list covers many areas, ranging from restoring military
cooperation to settling a commercial dispute involving the Karaha
Bodas power project.
Yet, Powell has explicitly said that his working visit to
Jakarta was mainly aimed "at boosting cooperation against
terrorism".
Last Week, U.S. President George W. Bushed called President
Megawati Soekarnoputri telling her about the planned visit of
Powell to Jakarta, and his wish to discuss the terrorism issue.
Jakarta is the last leg of Powell's tour of six countries in
Southeast Asia that is aimed at garnering support for the war
against terrorism, which started last year after the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks on the U.S.
Powell was slated to arrive in Jakarta late Thursday night to
hold a series of talks with Indonesian officials, including
President Megawati and a number of Cabinet ministers.
In an interview published on Thursday in the Far Eastern
Economic Review, Powell said the U.S. administration considered
that Indonesia had been working with them effectively.
"Initially, right after Sept. 11, the Indonesians ... had to
step carefully, but I think increasingly they understand the
danger in terrorism and are working with us in a very, very
effective way," Powell said.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
that Jakarta would encourage the Bush administration's intention
of restoring full military ties between the two countries.
"The Bush administration clearly understands that Indonesia
needs a strong military and police force to deal with the various
conflicts that have flared up around the country, along with
transnational crime," Hassan said.
The U.S. suspended military ties in 1999 following the East
Timor mayhem, which was allegedly ignited by Indonesian Military-
backed militias.
Since last year, the ties have been gradually warming up,
although only non-combat military equipment and training for the
police may be provided as yet.
Hassan claimed that the ties were expected to be fully
restored in November this year, following an agreement by the
U.S. senate subcommittee to do so.
Indonesia will also request Powell's assistance regarding the
long-standing commercial dispute between state-owned oil and gas
company Pertamina and Karaha Bodas Co. (KBC).
The federal district court in Delaware has ruled that
Pertamina must pay some US$261 million to KBC for stopping work
on a power project located in Garut, West Java, in 1997 in the
wake of the economic crisis.
Another matter that will be raised with Powell is the fate of
the detained Indonesian Agus Budiman, whose parents have been
seeking information about him.
Antara reported that Agus' father, Abron Ishak, had asked the
Indonesian foreign ministry to set up a meeting as Agus should
have been deported to Indonesia by now.
Agus was put on trial for alleged involvement in the Sept. 11
attacks, but the court recently freed him of all charges.
"I really want to see Powell because I want to know what has
happened to my son. The immigration authorities have decided to
deport him, but have not done so yet," Abron said.
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said
that the government would raise the issue with Powell.
During his short three-day visit, Powell is scheduled to meet
Minister Hassan on Friday, before meeting President Megawati.
As military ties will be the main topic of his visit, a
meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also been penciled in.
Powell is also slated to meet several Indonesian economics
ministers, including Coordinating Minister for the Economy
Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti.