Megawati seeks talks with Bush to explain RI stance<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri is seeking talks
\nwith U.S. President George W. Bush to explain the country's
\nposition on the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday
\nthat a meeting between Megawati and Bush was still being
\nfinalized.<\/p>\n
\"It will be made public within the next one or two days,\"
\nHassan said after a meeting with his U.S. counterpart Colin
\nPowell in Shanghai, China, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Megawati and Bush are in Shanghai to attend an Asia Pacific
\nEconomic Cooperation (APEC) summit.<\/p>\n
According to AFP, however, Megawati was absent from Bush's
\nmeeting schedule. Bush was to meet with leaders of Malaysia,
\nJapan, Brunei, Peru, Singapore and Russia.<\/p>\n
According to Hassan, during the meeting Powell expressed
\nappreciation of Indonesia's efforts to protect U.S. interests in
\nthe country, including the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and U.S.
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n
For his part, Hassan said he told Powell that Indonesia's
\nposition on the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan had not changed from
\nthe position stated on Oct. 8, one day after the U.S. started
\npounding Afghanistan with guided missiles.<\/p>\n
\"We are still encouraging a collective response under the
\nUnited Nations because the rule of the game is clear -- the
\ntarget, the process of law -- rather than criteria or regulations
\nunilaterally declared,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
He added that he had expressed concern about civilian
\ncasualties in the raids. \"We made that very clear not only this
\ntime but also in a statement on October 8,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Many political analysts and religious leaders here believe
\nIndonesia changed its position on the U.S. attacks after
\nPresident Megawati tacitly criticized the U.S. for attacking
\nAfghanistan.<\/p>\n
Megawati, apparently bowing to local Muslim pressure, said
\nduring the commemoration of the Ascension Day of Prophet Mohammad
\non Sunday that no government had the right to attack another or
\nseek to erase blood with blood.<\/p>\n
According to Hassan, Megawati's statement was stronger because
\nit was explained in detail from both the moral and religious
\nperspectives.<\/p>\n
\"So, the President's statement was merely an elaboration, but
\nits essence is the same as the government's statement issued on
\nOct. 8,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Megawati is trying to tread a delicate line between supporting
\nthe United States, a key ally, and appeasing Muslim groups.<\/p>\n
Anti-U.S. sentiment has been growing in Indonesia since U.S.-
\nled strikes on Afghanistan began on October 7 in retribution for
\nthe September 11 suicide hijack attacks on New York and Pentagon.<\/p>\n
On Friday, 10,000 people marched peacefully through Jakarta,
\ndemanding that the U.S. stop bombing Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Hassan said Powell understood the sensitivities faced by
\nMegawati's government in responding to the strikes.<\/p>\n
Hassan said Indonesia was lobbying other APEC members not to
\nsingle out Indonesia in the planned statement condemning last
\nmonth's deadly attacks on the United States.<\/p>\n
A declaration of support for Washington's campaign will be the
\ncenterpiece of the weekend summit of the 21-member APEC forum,
\nbut officials said on Friday the final text of the communique had
\nnot yet been settled.<\/p>\n
APEC was an organization that operated by consensus and
\nthere were \"variations of position\" within the group, said
\nHassan,<\/p>\n
A declaration of support for Washington's campaign will be
\nthe centerpiece of the weekend APEC summit, but officials said on
\nFriday the final text of the communique had not yet been settled.<\/p>\n
\"So you cannot single out Indonesia,\" Hassan said. \"You
\ncannot say Indonesia watered (it) down.\"<\/p>",
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