Mega to discuss Aceh, military ties with Qaddafi
Mega to discuss Aceh, military ties with Qaddafi
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will discuss the Aceh question
and military cooperation with Libyan President Moammar Qaddafi
when the latter pays a state visit to Indonesia in late February,
a Cabinet minister says.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Saturday
that the visit would be a return visit as Megawati visited
Tripoli in September last year.
"We are discussing various forms of military cooperation and
we have discussed the Aceh issue with Libya," Hassan said when
asked about the planned visit.
"The visit aims to follow up various agreements made between
the two countries during President Megawati's visit to Tripoli,"
he said.
On the sidelines of his visit, Qaddafi is expected to attend
the International Conference of Islamic Scholars organized by the
country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama between
Feb. 23 and Feb. 26.
Megawati was among the first heads of state to visit Tripoli
after the United Nations lifted economic sanctions imposed
against Libya in 1998, as a result of the bombing of a United
States commercial flight above Lockerbie, Scotland in 1986.
Bilateral relations between Indonesia and Libya date back to
the 1950s but Indonesia did not open an embassy in the country
until 2002.
In 2000, former president Abdurrahman Wahid invited Qaddafi to
attend a international Muslim preachers' gathering here, but the
latter declined.
During Megawati's visit to Tripoli last year, Qaddafi promised
to assist Jakarta in trying to put an end to the separatist
movement in Aceh, as many of its leaders, including its military
commander Muzakkir Manaf, received military training in the North
African country.
The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has been fighting for
independence for Aceh since 1976. Over 10,000 people, mostly
innocent civilians, have been killed since then.
The government launched an integrated operation in May last
year aimed at cracking down on the separatist movement. Over
1,000 GAM rebels have reportedly been killed since then, and over
2,000 others have been arrested or have surrendered to security
officers.
Underlining his support for Indonesia's territorial integrity,
Qaddafi also promised to identify suspected Aceh rebels who had
reportedly undergone military training in Libya.
"In principle, Libya supports the unitary state of Indonesia
and will not assist any separatist movement in Indonesia,"
Megawati said after meeting Qaddafi last year.
Hassan said on Saturday that the two countries were currently
discussing the date of the planned state visit. However, it was
reported earlier that the three-day visit would begin on Feb. 10.
During Megawati's visit to Tripoli last year, the two
governments finalized a countertrade deal with crude oil in
exchange for commodities and military accessories.
The deal covered 5,000 barrels of Libyan crude oil per day for
Indonesian commodities such as building materials, textiles,
furniture and military accessories.
The crude oil was worth about US$40 million per month and was
to be delivered starting early this year.
Libya has also asked for Indonesia's assistance in the
construction field.