No Agreement Yet on President Megawati’s Security in East Timor

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government of East Timor and Indonesia have not yet reached an agreement over security arrangements for Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. “We are yet to reach an agreement with Indonesia’s authority, particularly regarding the number of Indonesian personnel who are allowed to carry weapons in East Timor,” East Timorese Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Ramos Horta said in a press conference held in Dili on Saturday (18/5). According to Horta, the East Timorese government has agreed that only 15 people from Indonesian delegation would carry weapons while Indonesian authorities have asked that 85 people be allowed to do so. “We understand that military or navy personnel would perhaps have lack of understanding in this matter,” Horta said. According to Horta, the East Timorese government has actually tried to keep this matter secret (regarding the arrival of Indonesian warships-ed) because the current situation is still being discussed. Those involved include East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao, Indonesian State Intelligence Agency (BIN) head Hendropriyono and Head of the Presidential Guard (Paspampres) Deputy-Chief Brig.Gen. Suryo Prabowo. “Still, it’s really difficult for our country to receive six foreign warships in our territorial waters,” Horta said. At 11.50 am local time, Horta delivered his government’s objection on the arrival of six Navy ships in the East Timor’s territories to Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda. Horta said he had requested Indonesian government to remove its war ships from East Timor waters. However, the East Timor allowed a ship that accommodates navy personnel and their necessary weapons to dock at the Dili Harbor. “We want this matter to be settled thoroughly and the warships to remain in international waters,” Horta said. He also said that his government allowed 1,000 Indonesian personnel to be deployed for medical, protocol or security purposes as well as two helicopters for any medical evacuation on Saturday and Sunday. Horta said, referring to the report of UN Peace Keeping Force (UNPKF) Civil Police and US, British and Australian intelligence who have been observing the situation in East Timor, that there’s nothing to be worried on the security of Megawati in East Timor. “So, I conclude that the security in East Timor will unlikely threaten anyone,” Ramos Horta said. Horta said that East Timorese government intended to settle this matter immediately considering the courage shown by President Megawati by visiting East Timor and her commitment to establish a good relationship between Indonesia-East Timor. “The main point is, we put her security on our top priority,” Horta stated. Meanwhile, Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said that in the matters dealing with Megawati’s visit, people should not only focus on the technical matters on Megawati’s security. Wirajuda said that the government keeps conducting a consultation with UNPKF, East Timorese police and other authorities in East Timor. “I believe a good solution will be made in this matter, a solution that will be accepted by both sides without arousing any anger from each side,” he said at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Saturday morning (18/5). According to Wirajuda, based on the Security Procedures, presidential security becomes the responsibility of Paspampres chief. However, in certain cases, if the security efforts involve a bigger institution, the efforts become the responsibility of Indonesian Military (TNI) chief. Wirajuda denied that six war ships and 2, 000 TNI personnel have been deployed in East Timor. “It’s not true,” he said. According to him, the troops are stationed along the Indonesia-East Timor borders to avoid any possible attack from people living in West Timor area. Wirajuda declined to explain what people he was referring to. Wirajuda added that the stationing of the troops was aimed at establishing a secure situation for Megawati during the celebration of East Timor’s independence. “What we would like to do is to directly secure the president. This is quite usual and something that we have carried out on each visit made by the president,” Wirajuda said. (Purwani Dyah Prabandari-TEMPO Magazine/Faisal-Tempo News Room)