DATE=3/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA - MALAYSIA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260004
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed is
in the Indonesian capital for talks with President
Abdurrahman Wahid aimed at helping pull Indonesia out
of its economic crisis. As Patricia Nunan reports from
Jakarta, the two leaders also discussed the calls for
independence in Indonesia's northern province of Aceh.
TEXT: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed says Malaysia
has already begun to play the role of a mediator
between the Indonesian government and separatists from
the northern province of Aceh. Dr. Mahathir also said
that he has told Acehnese religious leaders that
Malaysia opposes the idea of independence for Aceh.
///OPT MAHATHIR ACT ///
I have personally met them and explained to them that
our stand is that Aceh should remain a part of
Indonesia. They may want to have more
autonomy. That is up to them to negotiate. But our
stand is that Aceh should remain a part of Indonesia.
To that extent we have participated to try to bring an
end to this process.
/// END OPT MAHATHIR ACT ///
Dr. Mahathir says Malaysia, if asked, would be willing
to take on more responsibility to help end the
conflict in Aceh.
Indonesia's northern Aceh province is separated from
Malaysia by the roughly 300 kilometer-wide Straits of
Malacca. But the Indonesian capital Jakarta lies more
than one thousand kilometers to the south. Some
Acehnese say they feel more of an affinity for
Malaysia than they do for Indonesia.
Rebels from the "Free Aceh Movement" have been
fighting for independence since the 1970's. That push
has gained momentum in recent months, with the
decision by the Indonesian government to let the
territory of East Timor go last October.
But the Indonesian military has also renewed its
efforts to crack down on the guerilla movement.
Amnesty International says more than 200 people have
died so far this year in counter-insurgency operations
launched by the Armed Forces.
Dr. Mahathir is in Indonesia for a one-day visit aimed
at improving economic ties between the two countries.
Both Indonesia and Malaysia have been affected by
Southeast Asia's economic crisis, that began to spread
across the region in 1997. Indonesia has been one of
the worst-hit by the economic slowdown. /// OPT ///
The collapse of its currency and banking system helped
force two changes in the government in the past two
years - a situation prompting this joke by the
Malaysian Prime Minister.
///MAHATHIR ACT///
I think what we have learned from Indonesia is that
the world is not a very friendly place. /// END OPT
///
///END ACT///
Indonesia and Malaysia did not reveal whether any new
trade agreements were reached between the two powers.
But the two leaders signed a memorandum
of understanding that leaves the door open for
increased trade between the two nations in the future.
NEB/PN/FC/PLM
09-Mar-2000 05:05 AM EDT (09-Mar-2000 1005 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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