Susilo jets off to Cairo for Arafat's funeral

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While extending condolences to Palestinians on the death of their president Yasser Arafat, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono cut short a trip to a national park in Central Kalimantan on Thursday to prepare for a trip to Cairo for the Nobel laureate's funeral.

State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra -- who is handling foreign affairs matters while Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda is on official business in Myanmar -- said Susilo's visit was a confirmation of Indonesia's support for Palestine's cause.

"It is with great sorrow and profound sadness that we learned the news about the untimely demise of President Yasser Arafat, a leader of the Palestinian people and a hero to us all," Yusril stated on behalf of the Indonesian government.

"We share this great loss and we fervently hope that it will instead translate into a renewed momentum for the attainment of independence, freedom, eternal peace and prosperity for the Palestinian people in their own country, in their homeland."

Susilo left Halim Perdanakusuma airport at 11 p.m. on a special flight. His entourage included his wife Kristiani Herawati, Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni, House of Representative Speaker Agung Laksono, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid, Nahdhaltul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi, deputy Muhammadiyah chairman Amin Abdullah and Indonesian Ulemas Council secretary-general Din Syamsuddin.

Egypt will host a military funeral for Arafat on Friday before he is buried in the West Bank on Saturday. Susilo will join other dignitaries who are expected to attend the funeral, including South African President Thabo Mbeki, Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, British foreign secretary Jack Straw and Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

Hassan Wirayuda is on a working visit to Myanmar, where he is holding bilateral talks with the new prime minister and foreign minister on the latest situation in the military-ruled country.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, has long supported Palestine's quest for independence and refuses diplomatic relations with Israel.

Arafat visited Indonesia four times, with the latest in 2000, when he met with then President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

Yusril added that the President would return to Indonesia as soon as possible, due to his busy schedule during Idul Fitri.

Susilo received the news of Arafat's death while in Tanjung Puting National Park, holding a dialog with local people.

"Please accept my apologies as our meeting will have to be cut short. I have to rush back (to Jakarta) and prepare for a trip to pay homage to the Palestinian president," Susilo told the people.

Susilo took just three questions during the dialog, which finished an hour earlier than scheduled.

The Palestinian Embassy in Jakarta has opened a book of condolences for the passing of Arafat. Ambassador Ribbi Y. Awad said visitors could sign the book from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until Saturday.

Awad said he knew Arafat personally, once sharing an apartment with him in Damascus. At the time, Awad worked for the Information and Public Affairs Office, while Arafat was with the military in the Palestine Liberation Organization.

"Over the past 40 years with Arafat, we often had differences in opinion and in political views. But both of us were committed to democracy," Awad said.

He said his office had received letters of condolence from common residents and Indonesian leaders on Arafat's death, including People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Hidayat and former president Soeharto, who met with Arafat several times.

Among those who have signed the book of condolences is Syahrir, chairman of the New Indonesia Alliance Party.