RI seeks support for territorial integrity

RI seeks support for territorial integrity

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post,
Yogyakarta

Indonesia, as the host, opened a two-day meeting of the Southwest
Pacific Dialogue Forum here on Friday to seek reconfirmation of
support for its territorial integrity from the six-member forum.

The meeting, held amid growing public criticism against the
government's poor diplomacy to promote the country's territorial
integrity, is part of the government's strong campaign to
maintain international support in defending its territorial
integrity, especially in Papua, where many are calling for
independence.

The forum, initiated by then president Abdurrahman Wahid in
2000, gathers the foreign ministers of the participating
countries.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
Indonesia expected all six countries, including East Timor, to
reconfirm their support for Indonesia's unity.

While emphasizing the principles of non-interference,
Hassan also indicated a readiness to receive suggestions from his
guests in resolving the country's problems.

The meeting itself was originally scheduled to be held in
Timika, Papua, in August to demonstrate Indonesia's confidence in
keeping Papua. However, due to security problems there, the venue
was moved to Yogyakarta.

"We wanted all of our partners at the forum to state, in the
very heart of Papua, their support for the territorial integrity
and national unity of Indonesia," Hassan told The Jakarta Post in
response to the failure to hold the meeting in Timika.

Hassan declined to comment on the statement by New Zealand's
Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff that New Zealand was
willing to help resolve the prolonged conflicts in Papua.

"All participating countries are very supportive of our
territorial integrity," Hassan said.

Citing his own country's experience in mediating separatist
conflicts in Papua New Guinea, Phil Goff indicated that New
Zealand was willing to participate in ending conflicts in
Indonesian Papua.

Goff emphasized that Papua was Indonesia's domestic problem,
and praised Indonesia for implementing the special autonomy
status for Papua. However, he also pointed out that prolonged
insecurity in the province would affect the whole region's
security.

"It is hypothetical, but if we were requested, we can play a
fruitful role in the talks on Papua," Goff said prior to
attending the meeting.

The foreign ministers are expected to issue a 13-point joint
statement on Saturday, covering security issues such are
transnational crime and terrorism, human and drug trafficking and
border issues. Other issues include the enhancement of
cooperation in the fields of education, social problems and
maritime affairs. The forum is expected to be held annually.

"Australia, New Zealand and PNG are very active in drafting
the statement," an Indonesian diplomat said, referring to
deliberations during the senior officials meeting (SOM) on
Friday.

The two-day meeting was also attended by East Timor Foreign
Affairs and Cooperation Minister Jose Ramos Horta, Australian
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, Papua New Guinea
Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rabbie Namaliu and the
Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas F. Ople.

Horta said his presence was a good opportunity to learn from
his colleagues. He also stated that East Timor had not decided
whether it would join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).

"I am here just to learn from more senior colleagues," said
Horta.

Meanwhile, foreign ministry officials denied that President
Megawati Soekarnoputri had canceled her plan to open the forum in
Yogyakarta, saying she had, from the beginning, asked Hassan to
read her speech.

The statement conflicted with the insistence of three Palace
officials who said they had come to Yogyakarta to prepare for the
President's visit. The visit was canceled apparently, shortly
after they had arrived in the town.

"We came here to prepare for her visit, but then she canceled
it," the three officials told the Post when found shopping in
downtown Yogyakarta on Thursday evening.