JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has proposed that a senior intelligence service member be named the country's first ambassador to newly-independent East Timor, a legislator said Friday.

Ahmad Bey Sofwan, a deputy head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), has been nominated by Megawati, Effendi Choirie, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee which must endorse the proposal, confirmed to AFP.

Indonesia has had a diplomatic mission in East Timor since its troops withdrew after a 1999 independence vote led to a bloody campaign by security forces leaving hundreds dead and much of the territory in ruins.

The former Portuguese colony became independent in May 2002 after 31 months of United Nations stewardship.

Chorie said Megawati's "sudden" proposal of Sofwan was unlikely to meet with objection, but added that there would be no support to accord embassy status to the mission in East Timor until bilateral problems were resolved.

"We don't agree with the representation there being made an embassy," Choirie said.

Noted human rights lawyer Hendardi said a member of the intelligence service was inappropriate for the post, given the history of Indonesia and East Timor. "I think it's better we choose an ambassador who will get sympathy from the East Timor people," said Hendardi, who does not know Sofwan. "If he's from BIN I don't think it's appropriate."

Hendardi represented East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao when he was a political prisoner in Jakarta.

BIN is a civilian agency headed by a retired general and employs many military officers. It is unclear if Sofwan belongs to the armed forces.

Hendardi said Indonesia's diplomatic representatives in East Timor for more than two years have been "reasonably successful" and he suggested one of them or a career diplomat would be a better choice as Jakarta's first ambassador.

Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975 to begin a 24-year occupation which ended after East Timorese voted overwhelmingly in August 1999 to separate.

East Timorese leaders are seeking to cooperate with their former foes and say they want to focus on the future, not the past.

But outstanding issues remain in the relationship, including Indonesia's demand to be compensated for assets which its nationals left behind in the country.