Alwi summons U.S. ambassador<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said on Thursday he
\nhad summoned U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Gelbard to
\nclarify local media reports that the envoy had tried to influence
\na recent Army appointment.<\/p>\n
Alwi said the ambassador, who was summoned on Wednesday, had
\ndenied the reports.<\/p>\n
\"I asked for a clarification ... He said 'it's not true that I
\ntried to influence the President over the appointment of a
\nposition in the TNI (Indonesian Military),'\" Alwi told reporters
\nbefore a Cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Local reports accused Gelbard of trying to influence the
\nappointment this month of a new Army chief.<\/p>\n
Alwi said a threat made against the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta
\nand the envoy himself had been behind a decision to close the
\nfacility to the public from Wednesday until Friday.<\/p>\n
The move to suspend the embassy's public service was the first
\nto happen during the history of U.S.-Indonesia relations.<\/p>\n
Alwi added that he told the ambassador during the Wednesday
\nmeeting not to worry about the menaces.<\/p>\n
\"Anybody can make a phone call and it should not be taken
\nseriously,\" he said.<\/p>\n
U.S. officials have not given details of the threat, and Alwi
\ndid not elaborate.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Embassy has been the subject of almost daily protests
\nby students and Muslim groups since violence erupted between
\nIsraelis and Palestinians earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Muslim groups and students here have accused Washington of
\nsiding with the Jewish state.<\/p>\n
The embassy issued a notice based on a State Department
\nannouncement on Tuesday reporting \"credible information\" of a
\npossible attack.<\/p>\n
\"In response to credible information of a threat to the
\nembassy compound, the ambassador and his team decided to close
\nthe public services for the remainder of the week,\" spokesman for
\nthe U.S. State Department Philip Reeker said.<\/p>\n
Alwi said Gelbard raised concerns during talks on Wednesday
\nabout the rise of anti-U.S. sentiment in Indonesia, and the
\npossibility of closing the embassy, which Alwi opposed.<\/p>\n
\"Don't let that happen because the effects would not be
\npositive. It is as if the relations between the two countries
\nwere being disturbed,\" he said. \"Don't let minor problems turn
\ninto big ones,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Misunderstanding<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Defense Minister Mahfud M.D. said that
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid had told him during the Cabinet
\nmeeting to meet with Gelbard to clear up any misunderstandings
\nbetween the two.<\/p>\n
Mahfud has been at odds with Gelbard over the former's
\nstatement that the envoy intervened in the deportation of a U.S.
\ncitizen accused of spying in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
\"The President asked me, together with the foreign minister,
\nto explain it (the controversy) in order to ease tensions.<\/p>\n
\"But in my opinion it's not too important because the
\ncontroversy is only in the newspapers. So it should be settled in
\nthe newspapers. But if the problems are getting serious, I will
\nmeet him (Gelbard) together with Pak Alwi Shihab,\" Mahfud said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Embassy said on Monday that it was \"dismayed and
\nperplexed\" by Mahfud's \"false charges.\"<\/p>\n
Mahfud added on Thursday that he had nothing personal against
\nGelbard.<\/p>\n
\"Personally, I like Gelbard and I don't want to become his
\nenemy, but when it comes to defense, security and the country's
\nterritorial integrity I think I have to speak out for the
\naspirations of my people,\" Mahfud said.<\/p>\n
Mahfud, who was virtually an unknown scholar before the last
\nCabinet reshuffle in August, has been notorious for his habit of
\ndenying or backtracking on statements he has made. (byg)<\/p>",
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