Why Megawati should go

Geopolitical reasons dictate that President Megawati Sukarnoputri should be present in Dili on the occasion of the independence of Timor Lorosae and the installation of President Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao. The fact of life is that an independent state, formerly the 27th province of the Republic of Indonesia, will be born on the island of Timor, which is within the geopolitical realm of Indonesia.

There are many reasons for saying that this development need not have happened. But we have only ourselves to blame for the fact that despite all our good intentions and social-political investments in that former 27th province, after serious upheavals the United Nations, as manager, is preparing it for independence. The important decision that Jakarta has to make at this stage is to develop a strategic view concerning Timor Lorosae in the sense of transforming it into a good neighbor, and not a potential source of problems. President Megawati's presence in Dili on May 20 to take part in the festivities welcoming the birth of the new nation and state is meant to underline that strategic decision. A number of items should be addressed in laying the foundations of a mutually beneficial relationship between Jakarta and Dili.

First, whatever residual problems are still unresolved as a consequence of the changed status of East Timor should be comprehensively resolved. A number of meetings have been held between Indonesia and UNTAET (the United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor) to discuss the problems inherited, such as the status and financial obligations to members of the Indonesian civil service in the former province, the status of the assets of the former Indonesian provincial administration, the status and obligations to students from East Timor who studied under Indonesian state scholarships in various institutions of higher learning in Indonesia and a number of related issues.

We suggest that Jakarta be magnanimous and not waste time bickering over trivialities, especially with regard to the East Timorese students. We strongly recommend that the Megawati government continue to finance their studies and after their graduation offer them the free opportunity to return to Timor Lorosae. They will be our best investment to underpin good neighborly relations. We would also like to suggest that President Megawati in going to Dili should carry with her at least three programs to be offered to President Xanana Gusmao's new government.

First, a program to sustain the teaching and thriving of the Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia), which by now is a working means of social communications in Timor Lorosae. Megawati on the occasion of her visit could perhaps donate a few thousands copies of the Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (General Dictionary of the Indonesian Language) published by Balai Pustaka in Jakarta. This dictionary is a reliable work of reference for the Indonesian language that is still being taught in some schools in Timor Lorosae. Megawati could also offer the services of at least a few hundreds of teachers of the Indonesian language and literature to work in Timor Lorosae as part of the Indonesian assistance program. There are strong reasons why we should promote the teaching of the Indonesian language in Timor Lorosae since it could function as an effective instrument for good bilateral relations.

Second, President Megawati should offer a modest program of assistance in agricultural development to the new Xanana government. During the Indonesian administration of East Timor some innovative agricultural programs were introduced in that former 27th province. A small Indonesian agricultural mission could assist Timor Lorosae in laying the foundations of a suitable agricultural base.

As a third item of assistance we would like to suggest that President Megawati offer her counterpart in Dili the services of a small team of Indonesian specialists with long experience in negotiating energy contracts based on the Indonesian concept of production sharing. It is in Indonesia's interest that Timor Lorosae should benefit from its energy resources so that it will not become an international basket case.

As a matter of fact, the need to develop good relations with Timor Lorosae was succinctly promulgated by an Indonesian diplomat, Ms. Musma Musa Abbas, during an UNTAET World Bank donor's meeting on East Timor in June 2000 in Lisbon. Among other things, she stated that:

"Over the long term and in anticipation of a post-UNTAET East Timor, Indonesia seeks the establishment of durable, wide-ranging and mutually beneficial links with East Timor. The promotion of trade and investment as well as cooperation in the socio-cultural field will be central to this effort. Equally important is the creation of conditions conducive to the interaction of the people of East Timor and the people of the neighboring Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (West Timor). For the legal and political separation of East Timor from Indonesia cannot erase the reality of centuries-old social and family links between the people of East Timor and Nusa Tenggara Timur (West Timor). Such links must be nurtured and made to flourish."

It should therefore be clear that the need for President Megawati to go to Dili needs no longer to be questioned. The important thing is to formulate the geopolitical foundations that can explain why it is in Indonesia's long-term interest to establish a stable relationship with Timor Lorosae. It might also be highly advisable for President Megawati on her way home to Jakarta to stop over in Kupang to explain those reasons, both to the local administration and to the community at large.