Politicians do about-face on Mega's Dili trip

Politicians do about-face on Mega's Dili trip

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Leading politicians opposed to President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
visit to East Timor have shifted their combative tone overnight,
now that it is clear that the President will stick to her plan.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung who initially
suggested that the President should postpone the visit, hailed on
Wednesday her planned trip to Dili because, "she will also pay a
visit to the Indonesian Military Cemetery" in East Timor.

Akbar said late last month, "The President should listen to
the suggestions from the House. It's better for the government
not to go there."

East Timor will officially become Timor Lorosae at midnight on
Sunday and will be the first country to become independent in the
21st century.

People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais who last
month urged Megawati to skip the Dili visit, said on Wednesday,
"It's her right to go there," and that he only hoped the trip
would bring more benefits than losses.

Amien who chairs the fifth largest party, the National Mandate
Party (PAN), previously said that there ought to be a longer
period for the Indonesian government to assess the situation,
including the unresolved problem of thousands of East Timorese
refugees in Indonesia's territories.

If the government ignored the problem and paid a visit to
Dili, he said, then it would not be a wise decision.

"But, the government has made the decision and we must support
it. Let's back Megawati's visit. May it be a successful visit,"
he exclaimed on Wednesday.

Amien is famous for shifting stances on issues. When
Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced in February that
he would visit Jakarta, Amien said he would not welcome the
Australian leader. But the public later learned that he joined
the gala dinner out of respect for the prime minister.

Megawati's visit was officially announced on Tuesday night by
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa who said
that it reflected Indonesia's commitment to face the future and
the reality of the situation.

Although, Akbar and Amien had hailed the visit, several
legislators said they planned to question the foreign ministry at
a hearing between the minister and House Commission I for foreign
affairs.

Separately, the Indonesian Military (TNI) said Wednesday it
had planned a security blanket for the presidential visit. In
addition to the presidential guards, there will be support from
the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the security
measures for the President's visit were based on intelligence
analysis.

"The plan has been coordinated with UNTAET and its security
forces in East Timor," Sjafrie said in a press release.

Speaking in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, local military
commander Col. Moeswarno Moesanip said two jetfighters would take
off from Kupang's airport on May 19 to safeguard the plane with
the President aboard.

He added that the Teluk Kambani warship had docked at the
Tenau seaport in Kupang carrying personnel to guard the
President.

"This is not a show of force, but an international standard of
security for a head of state," Moesanip was quoted by Antara as
saying.

He added that Military chief Adm. Widodo A.S. and himself
would stay aboard the warship to coordinate with security
personnel deployed in East Timor.