Separatist protest mars Susilo visit to NZ

Separatist protest mars Susilo visit to NZ

Rendi A.Witular, The Jakarta Post, Wellington

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono began his two-day visit on
Wednesday to New Zealand aimed at boosting trade and regional
security, amid two separatist protests against Indonesia that
marred his arrival.

During their talks, Susilo and New Zealand Prime Minister
Helen Clark agreed to improve bilateral cooperation in economic
issues, trade and combating transnational crimes.

"The meeting with the President was very constructive, with a
number of outcomes. We would like to focus our relationship more
on economic and trade issues as well as on transnational crimes,"
Clark told a joint news conference with Susilo.

In the economic sector, Clark said New Zealand and Indonesia
agreed to seriously follow up the existing joint Trade and
Economic Commission to formulate effective and practical ways to
boost trade activities.

Although geographically Indonesia is located near New Zealand,
trade and economic activities between the countries were fairly
insignificant, with Indonesia ranked only 16th in last year's
list of New Zealand's largest partners -- even smaller than
Malaysia, which ranked 12th.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said
the commission was scheduled to meet in November to lay the
ground for more serious trade and economic talks.

The two countries are also willing to initiate direct flights
to help support the mobility of businesspeople and tourists.

They signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at preventing
people-smuggling and trafficking. The MOU includes a plan to step
up cooperation between the Indonesian and Zealand police forces.

A joint declaration to fight terrorism and improve interfaith
dialog was also signed.

In the field of education, New Zealand pledged to boost its
scholarships for Indonesians to study in the country.

Susilo meanwhile expressed his disappointment to Clark over
two separatist protests in Wellington, which marred the first day
of his visit.

"Clark apologized, but said she could not ban freedom of
expression," Minister Hassan said after the Indonesian and
Zealand leaders' meeting.

As Susilo walked into parliament upon his arrival in
Wellington, two Green Party lawmakers waved flags urging
independence for Papua and Aceh province, where separatist rebels
have long been fighting for a separate state.

The flags, waved by the two protesters -- Green Party co-
leader Rod Donald and rastafarian MP Nandor Tanczos, were of the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

The lawmakers also called for the prosecution of Indonesian
Military personnel involved in gross human rights abuses in the
two provinces and East Timor before the latter voted to break
away from Indonesia in 1999.

"We are pleased that the New Zealand government won't be
reinstating a military cooperation and free trade agreement with
Indonesia until the violator of human rights is brought to
justice, and Aceh and Papua become independent," said Donald. The
issue of military ties with New Zealand was not discussed during
Susilo's visit.

New Zealand police officers briefly spoke to the lawmakers but
refrained from taking action to end their peaceful protest.

In response, Hassan said Indonesia understood the New Zealand
government's stance since both New Zealand and Indonesia were
democracies.

In the joint media conference with Susilo, Clark reiterated
her government's support for Indonesia's integrity and said
special autonomy granted to Aceh and Papua was the best solution
to address the separatist problem.

A similar demonstration also erupted involving dozens of
people, during a state dinner hosted by the parliament in honor
of Susilo. Protesters carried banners with anti-Indonesia
slogans.

At the same place however, dozens of Indonesians living in
Wellington as well as locals staged a rival protest in support of
the integration of Aceh and Papua with Indonesia.

While the pro-separatist supporters cursed Susilo, the pro-
integration protesters sang the Indonesian national anthem and
other songs.

A student who joined the pro-Indonesia protest accused the
Green Party of paying demonstrators to protest against Susilo.

"I know they were paid because one of my college friends told
me that the Green Party gave him NZ$30 to join the protest,"
argued the Indonesian student.