Boyce to cultivate RI's
\nanti-terrorism support<\/p>\n
By Endy M. Bayuni
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nin Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United States ambassador-designate to Indonesia urged on
\nMonday that Jakarta maintain its commitment to fight against
\ninternational terrorism.<\/p>\n
In his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations committee
\nin Washington, Ralph \"Skip\" Boyce underlined President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's pledge during her meeting with President George
\nW. Bush last week to counter international terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"As ambassador, I will make maintenance of Indonesia's support
\nfor the international coalition against terrorism my highest
\npriority, along with a continuing commitment to the protection of
\nAmerican citizens and businesses,\" Boyce said.<\/p>\n
He pledged support for Indonesia's efforts in fighting against
\npiracy, money laundering, and the smuggling of people, small arms
\nand drugs, according to a transcript of the senate hearing made
\navailable by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The United States shares an interest in addressing these
\nproblems which interact to impede Indonesia's ability to build
\nthe institutions of democracy, rule of law and free market,\" the
\ntranscript stated.<\/p>\n
Boyce will replace Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard, who is due to
\nleave Indonesia next month after leading the U.S. mission here
\nfor the past two years.<\/p>\n
Boyce's last position was as deputy assistant to the U.S.
\nsecretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. He is no
\nstranger to Indonesian affairs, having previously served in the
\nIndonesian mission as commercial attache and financial economist.<\/p>\n
The testimony came only days after Megawati's successful visit
\nto Washington, in which she and Bush issued a joint statement to
\ndenounce terrorism and make a clear distinction between religion
\nand terrorism.<\/p>\n
Megawati was one of the first leaders to visit Washington
\nafter the devastating terrorist attacks in the United States.<\/p>\n
Her presence in Washington was widely billed as a visit by the
\nleader of the world's most populous Muslim country. Her
\nendorsement for the U.S. war on terrorism was seen as support by
\na sizable proportion of the world's Muslims.<\/p>\n
Given his financial background, Boyce said he would have a
\nstrong interest in one of Jakarta's most pressing concerns: the
\nurgent need for fundamental economic reform.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia needs to get these reforms right if it is to win
\nback investors' confidence,\" he said, adding that timely U.S.
\nfinancial support would be crucial in the country.<\/p>\n
He reiterated Washington's support for Indonesia's territorial
\nintegrity and offered to help Jakarta deal peacefully with
\nseparatist pressures.<\/p>\n
While underlining the need for Washington to work
\nconstructively with the Indonesian Military (TNI), he defended
\ncongressional restrictions as a reminder to TNI leaders of the
\nimportance of respecting human rights.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/boyce-to-cultivate-ris-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}