Qaddafi's son arrives for two-day visit
Qaddafi's son arrives for two-day visit
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The son of Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi, Seif al-Islam al-
Qaddafi, arrived here on Tuesday for a two-day visit aimed at
helping Indonesia in dealing with people affected by various
conflicts in the country.
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab said
Qaddafi, chairman of the al-Qaddafi International Association for
Charitable Organizations, had expressed his desire to support
rehabilitation programs in Aceh, where government troops have
been fighting members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
"His organization has many social welfare programs, but most
importantly they could help us in several riot-torn areas such as
Aceh," Alwi told The Jakarta Post.
GAM members, some of whom were trained in Libya, have been
fighting for independence for the resource-rich province since
1976. Over 10,000 people, mostly innocent civilians, have been
killed since then.
Alwi said Indonesia hoped the organization could support the
country in rebuilding schools in the war-torn province which were
allegedly burned down by GAM members immediately after the
government imposed martial law there in May 2003.
Qaddafi is slated to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
Wirayuda on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, Qaddafi will hold talks with Alwi to design
humanitarian projects for his organization to help in Indonesia,
"We hope the organization could help sectors that directly
respond to people's needs, especially in conflict areas," the
minister said.
Relations between the two countries, dating back to the 1950s,
were once marked by accusations from Indonesia that Libya was
supporting the separatist movement in Aceh.
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri visited Lybia and held
talks with President Qaddafi in September 2003, in which he
underlined that the Libyan armed forces had never trained GAM
members or other Muslim militants from Indonesia.
He, however, said that Indonesians studying in Libya were
required to join self-defense training mandatory for all those
living in the country.
He also offered assistance to Indonesia in tackling separatist
issues by providing military and humanitarian support.
The United Nations imposed sanctions on Libya after the
bombing of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.
The embargo was lifted in 2003 and Megawati was among the
first heads of state to visit the country after the United
Nations Security Council lifted sanctions imposed in 1989.