President to visit E. Timor
President to visit E. Timor
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will attend East Timor's
independence declaration on Sunday night despite strong
opposition from key elements in the House of Representatives
(DPR), a report said.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on
Tuesday the decision reflected Indonesia's commitment to face the
future and the reality of the situation.
"This trip is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between
the two nations. It also reflects Indonesia's commitment to face
the future while remaining consistent with the reality (that East
Timor will become a sovereign country)," Marty told a media
conference.
He said the primary deciding factor in Megawati's decision to
attend the declaration was an invitation from UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan and East Timor's president-elect Xanana
Gusmao.
Megawati's decision however fails to put an end to weeks of
heated debate between national leaders and politicians, who are
divided on whether or not Megawati should go to East Timor to
attend the independence declaration.
Critics ranged from House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais to legislators
from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), which Megawati chairs. They argued that Megawati
should skip the declaration on the grounds of unresolved issues,
including refugees and Indonesia's assets in its former 27th
province.
An hour after the official announcement by the foreign
ministry, chairman of House Commission I for Foreign Affairs,
Ibrahim Ambong, said he regretted Megawati's decision since she
made it despite opposition from influential legislators at the
DPR.
Ambong said his commission would seek information from either
the state secretary or the foreign minister as to why the
president had ignored its strong opposition.
Fellow commission member Djoko Susilo of the Reform Faction
shared Ambong's sentiments, saying that legislators would
question what Indonesia would benefit from the trip.
Foreign policy observer Dewi Fortuna Anwar, however, applauded
Megawati's decision to accept the invitation.
"It is a clear expression of the country's good intention and
will boost Indonesia's image in the international community,"
Dewi told The Jakarta Post.
She further noted that the decision was a solid first step
toward better relations between the two countries and should not
bring any political damage to the president.
Marty said Megawati would stay for only four hours in the East
Timor capital of Dili on Sunday. She would lay a wreath at the
Indonesian Military Cemetery on Sunday night and attend the
midnight declaration ceremony at a lake on the outskirts of Dili.