Mega may go ahead with E. Timor visit

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite objections from legislators, President Megawati Soekarnoputri will likely go ahead with her plan to attend the proclamation of independence of the Indonesian former province of East Timor on May 20.

"Should nothing major happen between now and May 20, President Megawati will continue with the plan to go to East Timor," Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday.

Susilo made the statements after attending a ceremony at Merdeka Palace for the installation of Vice Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh as the new Navy Chief of Staff and Vice Marshall Chappy Hakim as the new Air Force Chief of Staff.

Megawati's plan to attend the proclamation of independence of East Timor has sparked debate as many legislators at the House of Representatives and People's Consultative Assembly advised her against attending.

The rejection to the plan has been caused mainly by the dark history and hurt feelings of many Indonesians by the loss of the former province whose people voted for independence during the UN-sponsored ballot in August 1999.

The separation left a lot of unfinished problems, especially after the mass violence allegedly involving Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel after the vote, which led many TNI officials to be brought to court on charges of gross human rights abuses.

No less than House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and Assembly Speaker Amien Rais suggested that Megawati postponed her plan because of the many unresolved problems between Indonesia and East Timor.

Both Akbar and Amien warned the President of the wounds Indonesia had suffered due to East Timor's secession.

Amien said it would be premature for Megawati to insist on traveling to Dili, even though he later changed his mind and left it to the President to decide for herself whether to go to East Timor.

Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of House Commission I for foreign affairs, expressed regret on Thursday over the President's insistence on traveling to Dili.

He said his commission would seek an explanation from foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda because the legislators had recommended the President not to go there.

"We will seek an explanation behind her decision at a hearing with the foreign minister," Ambong told the press here on Thursday.

He reiterated the legislators' preference for the government to send a ministerial level official. "This doesn't necessarily mean that we don't recognize East Timor's independence," said Ambong of Golkar faction.

A similar objection was aired by the TNI/National Police faction. "Our stance is clear and final," Budi Harsono, chairman of TNI/Police faction, said as quoted by Antara.

Budi shared Ambong's remarks that the President should send a ministerial level official as a representative of the Indonesian government.

"We don't intend to discuss it again now as we had talked about it earlier," Budi said.

Sucipto, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said on Thursday that his party had no official stance on the President's plan.

"However, whatever decision is made by the President, we will accept it," he said.

Separately, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, a member of the House Commission II on law and domestic affairs, hailed Megawati's plan to visit East Timor on ground that it would show the magnanimity of this nation.

"We have to show that we look to the future and fulfill the invitation of East Timor," said Lukman.

Susilo contended that the plan to leave for Dili was based on national interests in which for security reasons it would be better to have friendly relations with a close neighbor like East Timor.

"For the sake of security in our own country and in the region it would be better that we keep good relations with East Timor," Susilo remarked.

Susilo further said that maintaining good relations with East Timor would also keep the international community from undermining Indonesia, especially after the difficult separation with the former province.

"The visit will not be a threat to our dignity, ... but it will be an advantage for the future of our foreign policy," the retired four-star general reiterated.

"The presence of President Megawati will symbolize the stand point of Indonesian foreign policy that looks to the future for our national interests and stops looking at the past," Susilo added.