Indonesia welcomes Gusmao win

Indonesia's departure from East Timor in 1999 left much of the territory a burnt-out wreck

JAKARTA, Indonesian (CNN) -- In a sign of warming relations between East Timor and Indonesia, President-Elect Xanana Gusmao, upon news of his victory, made one of his first phone calls to his former enemy, the government of Indonesia.

It was a gesture that was warmly received by the Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"On behalf of the President, the Minister congratulated Mr. Xanana Gusmao on the election and on his status as President Elect. Mr. Wirayudha also conveyed his appreciation and recognition of peaceful and democratic manner in which the election was held." Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Marty Natalegawa told CNN.

Gusmao's victory was widely anticipated and accepted in Indonesia, despite his history as a guerilla leader fighting Indonesian military rule.

Captured and imprisoned by the Indonesian military, Gusmao became a popular independence hero behind bars galvanizing East Timor's independence movement.

When the overwhelming majority of East Timorese voted to break away in September 1999 -- amidst a campaign of violence carried out by Indonesian troops and their militia henchmen -- Xanana Gusmao emerged as East Timor's undisputed leader.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Mike Chinoy profiles former East Timorese guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao. Play video   MORE STORIES Profile: Gusmao: Timor's reluctant leader    IN-DEPTH Timor: A new nation is born  • Timeline: Struggle for independence     CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

"Ironically, precisely because of the fact that he was a guerilla leader -- actually fighting on the ground -- who was later captured and spent some time in an Indonesian jail, he has shown the greatest understanding of Indonesian politics and Indonesian way of thinking." Indonesia's Former Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas, told CNN.

On the streets of Jakarta, many approved of Gusmao as East Timor's president despite misgivings about his rebel past.

"Gusmao in East Timor used to be a part of Indonesia, but now he stands on his own." Said Ali Sulaimuddin, a member of Indonesia's civilian guard.

"But he doesn't seem to be thankful to Indonesia for all those years. He's not thankful at all."

Megawati boycott

Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri rose to power after East Timor's 1999 referendum, but made it known that she did not approve of the break up.

She is now mulling a demand by several lawmakers in parliament to boycott East Timor's official independence day next month.

Nonetheless, observers say, President Megawati has come to terms with East Timor's independence and should work closely with East Timor's new president.

"I think President Megawati who was known in the past to be not very favorably inclined towards giving or separating with East Timor, has now accepted that fact quite graciously," said former Foreign Minister Alatas.

"She has, I think, now shown the intention or the desire to develop close relations with what will be a very close neighbor in the near future."

Contentious issues, remain, however.

Critics say Indonesia is dragging its feet in the ongoing trials of several high-level military and civilian officials accused of human right violations in East Timor.

Furthermore, Indonesia refuses to hand over suspects already convicted of atrocities in East Timorese courts. Some East Timorese officials are demanding an international tribunal to ensure justice is served.

Border and land issues are also a bone of contention with Indonesia's land and maritime borders with East Timor still not agreed upon.

Of particular concern, the isolated enclave of Oecussi located in the middle of Indonesian controlled West Timor.