Once again about East Timor

Once again about East Timor

East Timor is part of our past, but it will also be part of
our future. Therefore, we have to be tactical, smart and wise to
play a role in building bilateral relations with the new nation.

Since the beginning, we have been on the right track.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri visited the nation on its
independence day despite polemics and controversy at home.

Xanana knows well how to attract sympathy. He visited
Indonesia when he had just been elected as the nation's first
president. He met several government officials, including
President Megawati, inviting them to attend his country's
declaration of independence.

And he was supposed to arrive on an official visit here
yesterday but it was postponed. The Indonesian government said
the reason behind the delay was the absence of an appropriate
schedule.

If that is indeed the reason, it is understandable. But, if it
is caused by the unpreparedness of our government to see the
national flags of the two countries hoisted side by side and the
national anthems sung together, it is really a narrow reason.

Few members of the MPR have plans to question the President
with regard to her visit to East Timor. But, hopefully, it is not
because of such a plan that Mega became awkward in receiving
Xanana.

The right to summon the head of the executive body is a
democratic process in executive-legislative relations. Let it be
so. But this nation has to look forward. We have already lost
credibility over East Timor. It is true that we are big, but not
because of smartness and wisdom. We have become like a dumb
giant.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta