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.