House to meet FM to discuss Libya, Japan

The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and members of his staff today to discuss the latest developments in Libya and Japan, and the handling of Indonesian immigrants in the two countries.

A lawmaker from House commission on foreign affairs, Yahya Secawirya, said several lawmakers were concerned about Indonesia's position on the military intervention by allied forces in Libya following the anti-government uprising in the oil-producing country.

“We aren't focused on Libya, the United States or the opposition parties in that country. We are concerned about the fate of civilians amid the military operations of the allied forces,” Yahya said.

He added that the House would press the foreign minister to ask the UN Security Council to take action immediately should the military operation in Libya drag on.

“We would prefer it if the security council took over and to held control there,” he said.

He added that Indonesia should be active in efforts to resolve the unrest in the Middle East.

“Our aim for the Libyan people to be able to control their own fate,” he said.

On the fate of Indonesian immigrants in Japan, Yahya said the House wanted to know what measures had been taken by the government.

“We want to know the numbers of [Indonesian] refugees, where they are located, their condition, and measures in the pipeline,” he said.