Why Megawati should go

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.