Cold day to face chilly matters for Wahid

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

The Ngai Tahu welcoming party patiently waited barefoot in the spreading pools of water on the tarmac, jiggling bare arms like ducks flapping their wings to try to ward off incipient hypothermia.

As the Army's presidential guard of honour unfroze in salute, the sodden Indonesia flag stubbornly refused to unfurl, instead dangling meekly in the biting southerly wind sloshing buckets of rain across Christchurch airport.

Finally, a stooped figure shuffled out of the aircraft's door.

Helped by flanking aides, he carefully navigated his way down the steps to be swallowed up in a swarm of umbrellas hiding the Governor-General and the Prime Minister.

Forty minutes late, and nearly 30 years after one of his predecessors made the last such visit, Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid was standing on New Zealand soil.

Facing impeachment and about to be ousted by a woman, he was asked at a later press conference what he thought about arriving in a country run by women.

"I am used to living in a household filled with women," said the 60-year-old, nearly blind President, laughing. "I have no sons. I lost my father when I was 13. So I've been living with my mother, my daughters, my wife - that's all."

He then commented seriously about the oppression of women.

On other serious matters, yesterday afternoon's talks with Helen Clark canvassed human rights, education assistance for Indonesia and the setting up of a West Pacific forum, involving New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, East Timor and Brunei.

Once again, Helen Clark pressed Mr Wahid to begin judicial proceedings against the killer of Private Leonard Manning, the soldier murdered by pro-Jakarta militia in East Timor last July while serving with the New Zealand component of the United Nations peacekeeping force.

A former militia commander, Yakabus Bere, was arrested in West Timor last January for Private Manning's murder and is awaiting trial.

President Wahid acknowledged Indonesia's prosecutors were weak and said it was a matter of "finding honest judges."

Earlier, Helen Clark said she had offered New Zealand assistance with the training of judges and the establishment of an Indonesian human rights commission.

Helen Clark also sought an explanation for the detention of Auckland human rights activist Maire Leadbeater during a labour solidarity conference in Jakarta this month.

She said the President had made it clear he did not condone the detention. "The New Zealand Embassy has been in direct dialogue with the Ministry of Justice in Indonesia and we are satisfied our concerns have been taken on board."

Only a handful of human rights demonstrators were outside the President's hotel during his talks with New Zealand ministers.

* After corruption scandals, President Wahid faces impeachment proceedings in the Indonesian Parliament in early August.

He will probably be replaced by his deputy, Megawati Sukarnoputri, who has the backing of the military.

Before he left Australia, Mr Wahid again warned he might invoke emergency rule and call in the military if the Parliament moved against him.

But Indonesian Army spokesmen said the military would protect Parliament and allow the vote to proceed.

Feature: Indonesia

CIA World Factbook: Indonesia (with map)

Dept. of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

Antara news agency

Indonesian Observer

The Jakarta Post

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor

East Timor Action Network