Jakarta – Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri will attend East Timor's landmark independence handover on May 20, despite strong opposition from MPs.

"Ms Mega is planning to attend. I repeat, Ms Mega is planning to be present" at the celebrations, top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday, according to the state Antara news agency.

Mr Susilo declined to elaborate on the reason for the decision. Ms Megawati has made no public comment on the heatedly debated question of her attendance.

Legislators, including the speakers of the lower and upper houses of Parliament, respectively Akbar Tandjung and Dr Amien Rais, have called on her to shun the East Timorese independence celebrations.

They said that for many Indonesians, the wounds of having lost a territory which was for 24 years part of the country had yet to heal, while Dr Amien had implored her to avoid the ceremony for the sake of "national dignity".

MP Yasril Ananta Baharuddin, a member and former chairman of the Parliament's outspoken foreign affairs commission, said Ms Megawati's decision to attend the ceremony was a snub to Parliament.