RI should forget assets and help East Timor

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao arriving on Monday for a five-day visit, Jakarta should drop demands that East Timor compensate it for Indonesian assets in the territory, and instead offer support for the new country.

Political analyst Soedjati Djiwandono said dropping the issue of assets would be a good start to building a positive relationship with East Timor.

Besides, Indonesia cannot claim many assets in the territory, he added.

"There is not much support that we can offer them, but at least forget about those assets. Besides, there is not much that we can claim," Soedjati told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He also pointed out that there was much Indonesia owed East Timor, from the 23-year occupation of the territory and the rampage by military-backed militias after the independence ballot in August 1999.

Soedjati said Indonesia should focus on "positive" support for the new country, such as establishing markets around the border between the two countries and supporting the movement of people between East Timor and Indonesia's West Timor.

Indonesian assets in East Timor is one of the most contentious issues in the continuing talks between the two countries, as they seek to resolve lingering disputes over their separation.

Jakarta has demanded that East Timor compensate it for the assets, while East Timor has refused to do so.

In high-level talks during the visit of three Indonesian ministers to Dili last month, the two sides agreed to establish a joint forum that will serve as a meeting point for the two sides to discuss residual issues such as refugees, a pension fund and assets.

The finalization of the forum's establishment will be discussed in Jakarta during Gusmao's visit.

The director of media relations at Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wahid Supriyadi, said Xanana would arrive in Bali on Monday and was scheduled to fly to Jakarta on Tuesday aboard a commercial flight.

Xanana is scheduled to have a 40-minute closed-door meeting with Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Tuesday before a bilateral meeting.

"The two leaders will sign a joint communique, possibly on the establishment of the joint forum, after the meeting," Wahid told the Post.

Xanana is also scheduled to meet with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Xanana will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, and then meet with People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

He will then fly to Makassar, South Sulawesi, to deliver the keynote speech at a seminar on the prospects for economic relations between eastern Indonesia and East Timor.

Xanana is scheduled to leave for Bali on Thursday evening before flying back to Dili on Friday.