Jakarta says it's up to RP to let Horta in
Jakarta says it's up to RP to let Horta in
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will not pressure the Philippine
government about whether it should let an East Timorese
separatist leader come to Manila while President Soeharto is
there in November.
"It is completely up to the Philippine government what action
they wish to take. We trust they will pursue the appropriate
policy," a foreign affairs ministry official said yesterday.
Several leftist non-governmental organizations in the
Philippines have invited Jose Ramos Horta, the self-exiled leader
of the East Timor separatist movement, to visit Manila in
November to coincide with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) forum summit meeting.
President Soeharto is expected to attend the summit.
The foreign ministry official, who requested anonymity, said
Manila should consider ASEAN's spirit of mutual respect,
solidarity and non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other
countries when it decides whether to grant Horta a visa.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam.
There is an understanding within ASEAN that a member will take
the necessary measures to prevent acts in its soil which could be
an affront to other members, the official said.
He pointed to a planned East Timor conference by activists in
Manila in 1994 in which the Philippine government, conscious of
Jakarta's displeasure, took measures to tone down the conference.
Manila even went so far as to bar entry to foreign delegates.
Horta, the joint winner of this year's Nobel peace prize, was
also in Osaka, Japan, when the last APEC summit was held. His
presence, while drawing some media interests, did not disrupt the
APEC proceedings, which President Soeharto attended.
This year's APEC summit will be on Nov. 25.
APEC is an economic cooperation forum aimed at achieving
comprehensive regional trade liberalization. It comprises
Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Papua New
Guinea, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United
States.
In Manila, AFP reported that Indonesian officials attending a
preparatory APEC meeting shrugged off Horta's planned attendance.
"In Osaka, he (Horta) was also there," said Bintoro
Tjokroamidjojo.
"I think the host country will try to prevent the
embarrassment of a guest," said Bintoro, who is personal
assistant to President Soeharto on APEC affairs.
Separately, Lisandro Abadia, director-general of the
Philippine organizing committee, said it was up to his superiors
whether to allow Horta into the country during the APEC summit.
Philippine Senate leader Blas Ople warned a visit by Horta
would set a "dangerous precedent."
"The evident intention here is to embarrass President
Soeharto," he said in a statement.
"This is incompatible with our foreign policy of promoting
stability in the region," he added. (mds)