Mega told to skip Dili's independence declaration

Kurniawan Hari and Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Three years after the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to free themselves from Indonesia, the leaders here still appear to be reluctant to accept the former Portuguese colony's independence.

Akbar Tandjung, the speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), one of the country's highest institutions, urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday to skip East Timor's declaration of independence celebration on May 20, arguing that some problems related to East Timor's existence remained unresolved.

"The President should listen to suggestions by the House. It's better for the President not to attend," Akbar, currently a defendant in a huge corruption case, said on Thursday.

Chairman of House Commission I Ibrahim Ambong concurred with Akbar, suggesting that Indonesia should only send ministerial level officials.

Dozens of heads of state are expected to gather in Dili on May 20 to witness the declaration of East Timor's full independence. Megawati has been invited by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and East Timor leaders to attend the ceremony. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said on Thursday that President Megawati had not yet decided whether or not she would accept the invitation.

He also said that the government would wait for the formal announcement of the presidential election result, which took place on Sunday, before it would officially congratulate Xanana Gusmao's election as East Timor's first president.

East Timor, Indonesia's self-proclaimed 27th province from 1976 to 1999, voted for independence in a United Nations- organized popular consultation in 1999. Although Indonesia has formally acknowledged the territory's separation, bitterness at the loss of East Timor remains high among Indonesians, including legislators.

Before and after the vote, military-backed militia members went on bloody rampage, killing perhaps hundreds of East Timorese and destroying almost 80 percent of the infrastructure. The terror campaign also was responsible for forcing over 200,000 East Timorese into makeshift refugee camps in West Timor, where tens of thousands of them are still living in squalid conditions.

Bowing to international pressure, Indonesia is now putting on trial, or soon will be, a total of 18 mid-level leaders and military as well as police personnel for the violence.