Mega's visit to U.S. timely

Mega's visit to U.S. timely

There was indeed, at first, some hesitation among senior
Indonesian government officials whether or not to accept the
American presidential invitation. The economic value of the visit
seems to have more significance than the political aspect, so the
go-ahead signal was given.

Yet an influential figure like People's Consultative Assembly
Speaker Amien Rais advised President Megawati to wait a little
longer until conditions in the USA stabilized. Amien Rais
believed the U.S. government would have little time and desire to
pay attention to the high-powered Indonesian delegation, which
will press for more U.S. investment.

It has to be admitted that more harm than good will be done if
U.S. President Bush, as some analysts are fearing, decides to
send in American troops to catch who they think is the main
culprit, or in Bush's own words "evil doer", while the Indonesian
delegation is still in the USA.

But Megawati has also gone to New York to address the annual
meeting of the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for
Sept. 21, barring any changes in the schedule. So the opportunity
to address the international community to expose Indonesia's
stance on various international matters, probably including how
to combat terrorism (Indonesia itself is suffering from it at
home), should not be missed.

But the delegation's main mission is to convince the American
business and financial community that investing in Indonesia is
profitable, that the country is safe for investors and its
economy is recovering. While President Bush and his government,
including Secretary of State Colin Powell, will be willing to
listen to the Indonesian side, it remains to be seen whether a
positive reaction and follow-up will be forthcoming and
immediate.

It needs some courage for a huge delegation led by President
Megawati to continue its sacred mission to Japan when the
international community, business, financial or otherwise, has
hardly settled down after the shock. Japan, after all, is the
second-largest investor in the country and is known to be willing
to help solve Indonesia's economic problems.

To wait for a better chance to meet American and Japanese
leaders to talk about Indonesia's economic woes and potential
might be a futile exercise. Any opportunity that offers itself,
under whatever international conditions, should be seized without
delay.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta