Lely Djuhari, Jakarta – President Megawati Sukarnoputri, a staunch nationalist, said yesterday she respected East Timor's right to secede from Indonesia, and apologised for atrocities in Aceh and Irian Jaya.It was the first time that Ms Megawati, who opposed East Timor's independence, has publicly acknowledged its right to self-determination. "We openly respect our brothers' choice to live in their own state," she told the national assembly as part of her first state of the nation speech.
Outlining her vision for running the troubled country, Ms Megawati, who took office last month, promised to restore order, and apologised to the rebellious provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya for decades of human rights abuses.
However, the President told the two resource-rich regions they would never be allowed to break away. "We convey our deep apologies to our brothers who have long suffered as a result of inappropriate national policies," she said, adding that she hoped the people of the two provinces would accept special autonomy packages on offer that would give them a greater say in running their own affairs.
"But one thing is clear: all this [special autonomy] will take place within the context of maintaining the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia." In a speech marking the anniversary of independence from Dutch colonial rule 56 years ago today, she warned Indonesians it would take time to drag the country out of one of its most dire periods.
"Our multitude of crises certainly cannot be overcome all at once ... Only by [working together] can we gradually emerge from this time, which has been very painful for us all." Ms Megawati said her Government would work hard to end a protracted refugee crisis in Indonesian-controlled West Timor. An estimated 50,000 East Timorese are still sheltering in camps in the region, after fleeing the post-ballot violence in 1999.
Ms Megawati campaigned against East Timor's independence in 1999. In the past two years she has also forged close ties with several military commanders whom human rights activists have accused of being responsible for the post-ballot violence. That has raised fears they will not be brought to justice.
But in her speech yesterday Ms Megawati promised to take legal action against anyone proved guilty of atrocities.
Her speech largely sidestepped specific plans to woo investors back to Indonesia and rebuild the banking sector, although she is expected to give a separate account on the economy and the budget to parliament next month. Many analysts also expect Ms Megawati to leave many details to the economic professionals who dominate her new Cabinet.
She said the Constitution – a deliberately vague document drawn up by her father, the founding president Sukarno – had to be overhauled if the country was to avoid more political instability.