Common stance needed to fight terrorism<\/p>\n
Following the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks in the United States,
\nwhat has become of the relations between Indonesia and the U.S.?
\nKornelius Purba of The Jakarta Post talked to former foreign
\naffairs minister Ali Alatas. The following are excerpts of the
\ninterview.<\/p>\n
Question: What is your comment on Indonesia's position in dealing
\nwith the attacks?<\/p>\n
Answer: Indonesia, from the very beginning, had stated its position
\nwith regards to international terrorism quite clearly. We cannot
\naccept the Sept. 11 attacks. We condemn terrorism. And based on
\nthe attacks, we must, together with the rest of the world, combat
\nterrorism. Because terrorism is a threat not only to one country,
\nto one people, but it is against humanity; whether we be Muslims,
\nChristians or from other religions. Terrorism per definition must
\nbe completely condemned, because it kills people
\nindiscriminately, people who are not guilty -- women, children,
\nolder people, not soldiers...<\/p>\n
However... we have our own view that may be different from
\nthe U.S. But that's OK. We conveyed that as a friend. We think
\nthat in combating international terrorism, bombing is not the
\nbest way, not the most effective way. And it can be
\ncounterproductive in the end. The more innocent people die, the
\nmore there will be a backlash, especially in countries with a
\nmajority of Muslims. And we cannot avoid that in bombing, no
\nmatter how smart the bombs are...<\/p>\n
This is the message that we have conveyed. I think we remain
\nquite consistent with our view. We have... urged the U.S. to do
\nthe operation as short as possible, in terms of time, deployment.
\nWe already stated that it was better to go to the UN.<\/p>\n
Q: How should the government explain this to those who demand
\nseverance of ties with the U.S.?<\/p>\n
A: This is obviously an emotional, rather disproportionate
\ndemand. I have a feeling that even the people who are proposing
\nit know deep in their hearts that is it not realistic because it
\nis disproportionate. I think the government must explain much
\nmore intensively to our own people about terrorism: first, on our
\nvery firm and principled stance on terrorism and why. Because we
\nare certainly victims of terrorism.<\/p>\n
There are moral and political reasons, reasons of principal
\nwhy we have to deal with terrorism. Because it is against the
\nprinciples of our religion, our morals, because it kills innocent
\npeople indiscriminately. But then we must also explain that this
\nis not, and should not be interpreted as a war of the West
\nagainst Islam because it is not.<\/p>\n
Objectively speaking the U.S. government has tried very hard
\nto make that very clear. Because there are a lot of Muslims in
\nthe U.S. Yes there are excesses like in other countries, but
\nimmediately there were messages to stop these excesses.<\/p>\n
It has to be explained, that it is not against Islam and it
\nshould not be seen as against Islam and even not against the
\nAfghan people. But (the campaign) is against terrorism, against
\nOsama bin Laden who the U.S. and most countries agree has been
\nbehind this terror. Of course there are people who will not
\naccept this explanation; who in a political or emotional way will
\ncontinue to link this with a fight against Islam.<\/p>\n
But we should point out the fact that the U.S. has supported
\nIslam. In Kosovo it was America who fought for the Islamic people
\nagainst Yugoslavia. In Bosnia Herzegovina the slaughter of the
\nMuslims of Bosnia was finally overcome, thanks to very drastic
\nAmerican intervention in Bosnia.<\/p>\n
So I don't think that it is correct now to assume that
\nsuddenly the U.S. is against Islam. Why should they be? However
\nthere are factors which unfortunately have made it sometimes very
\ndifficult to explain this ... Osama Bin Laden and al Qaeda have
\nbeen accused, and they are Muslims. For some it is a war against
\nIslam.<\/p>\n
This has to be explained in a rational and calm way because
\nemotions are running very high. People can get very angry when
\nthey think there is an unfair attack on Islam, on Muslims.<\/p>\n
Indonesia could be more proactive in lobbying and getting
\nother friendly countries ... to stop the bombardments and to let
\nUN to find the solution. I believe the government ... knows this.
\nI wish it could move faster, but they are in the right direction.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you see the controversy that resulted from the
\nPresident's speech on the Ascension Day of Prophet Muhammad?<\/p>\n
A: The appeal was made in a general, religious, and moral way. It
\nis not true that in the very beginning we were very much in favor
\nof U.S., and that we are suddenly now regressing. It is not true.
\nThere is a logical continuity in our statements.<\/p>\n
When (the attacks on the U.S.) occurred we sent a very strong
\nstatement of principle during President Megawati's meeting with
\nPresident Bush. We promised that we would combat terrorism. But
\nthen came the attacks (on Afghanistan). Then we started to look
\nat the methods of combating terrorism. We expressed our deep
\nconcern about the Afghan attack. This is not the right way. Pak
\nHassan (Wirayuda, foreign minister) has said clearly that it
\nshould be stopped before Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
Q: Bush's administration and U.S. businessmen were reportedly
\ndisappointed with the President's criticism...<\/p>\n
A: They asked questions but they were not disappointed. But I
\njust read a very clear statement by the new U.S. Ambassador Ralph
\nL. Boyce that the U.S. understands Indonesia's position and
\nappreciates Indonesia's position. Because we are not regressing.
\nWe will also continue efforts to prevent terrorism across the
\nboard.<\/p>\n
Q: Does the U.S. also understand Megawati's domestic political
\nproblems?<\/p>\n
A: Yes, they do. They realize that being a country with the
\nlargest majority of Muslims in the world, she cannot just ignore
\nthe general views. How can any government do that? Indonesia,
\nMalaysia, Pakistan, Egypt, all the countries with a majority of
\nMuslims, have to be cautious. On one hand they must be firm
\nagainst terrorism, but they must also take into account the
\nviews, the sensitivity, the possible misunderstanding that may
\noccur within the majority of their populace and find ways to
\novercome that ...<\/p>\n
Q: How would you convince people that ties with U.S. are
\nimportant for Indonesia?<\/p>\n
A: Of course we cannot put an argument such as: \"Look at the size
\nof America, they have large banks. We need their market, we need
\ntheir foreign aid etc.\". This would not be the only argument,
\nbecause... it seems as if you do not have any principles. There
\nis only weakness in that position.<\/p>\n
The remark of \"Don't do this because we are weak\", I think, is
\nnot a good idea. Of course we are still vulnerable. But we are
\nnot weak. We have our own principles. We are in difficult
\ncircumstances. But we are a big country... We have a strategic
\nplace in the world. We have the potential to move other countries
\nin the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic
\nConference. I'm not saying that economically we are strong, no,
\nwe are vulnerable.<\/p>\n
Q: And what about our own huge problems, and domestic terrorism?<\/p>\n
A: Yes, we have our own terrorist problem in Indonesia and in
\nSoutheast Asia. That is why we need now in Southeast Asia, also
\nin East Asia, to get together, so we can define our common
\nresponse to this transnational threat of terrorism, because there
\nare indications that terrorists are cooperating with each other.<\/p>\n
Abu Sayyaf has support from al Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf also has some
\ncontacts with our rebels. I think one of the themes in the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia is to
\nrealize the danger of this transnational threats of terrorism.<\/p>\n
They must also address issues such as how to deal with other
\nthreats like money laundering, drug smuggling, piracy and people
\nsmuggling in the waters of Southeast Asia. People smuggling has
\nnow become our problem, look at the Iraqis and Afghan people
\nhere. These are all problems of transnational security.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/common-stance-needed-to-fight-terrorism-1447893297",
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