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.