Mega may go ahead with E. Timor visit

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.