Megawati told to be more assertive over Iraq issue<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri appears to be wavering on
\nwhether to condemn a possible attack by the United States on Iraq
\nas calls mount for her to speak out publicly against an attack.<\/p>\n
Analyst Ikrar Nusa Bhakti urged Megawati on Sunday to be more
\nassertive in addressing the Iraqi issue in order to avoid the
\nmisperception that Indonesia supports the U.S. and its allies
\nover Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"It is true that we are dependent on the U.S. for many things,
\nbut that should not keep the President from being more assertive
\nin addressing the issue,\" Ikrar told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"Voicing an anti-war opinion is a positive thing and in
\naccordance with our Constitution, regardless of any possible ire
\nfrom Washington,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ikrar's comments came after noted religious leaders told the
\ngovernment over the weekend to make clear its stance on the Iraqi
\nissue.<\/p>\n
During a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirayuda last Friday, the religious leader said Megawati had to
\nmake known her position on a possible U.S. attack on Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"The minister admitted that the President had never officially
\naddressed the issue, which could be misunderstood as being
\nindecisive,\" Muslim leader Solahuddin Wahid told the Post on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
The United States and Britain are building up their military
\npresence in the Middle East for a possible attack on Iraq, which
\nthey accuse of developing and storing weapons of mass
\ndestruction. Iraq has consistently denied the allegations.<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to address
\nthe United Nations on Wednesday to present evidence that Iraq has
\nweapons of mass destruction and must be disarmed.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin said Megawati should clearly state that Indonesia
\nopposes any unilateral action by any country.<\/p>\n
\"The President has to explain that an anti-war opinion does
\nnot mean we want to hurt our relations with Washington, but we
\nhave to state that we are against their policy of striking Iraq,\"
\nSolahuddin said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, saw waves
\nof street rallies in 2001 after the U.S.-led attacks on
\nAfghanistan, which was accused of harboring Osama bin Laden, the
\nchief suspect in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on
\nWashington and New York.<\/p>\n
The rallies, which in several areas were accompanied by
\nthreats against American citizens, prompted several foreign
\nmissions to send home nonessential staff.<\/p>\n
Some foreign companies also suspended operations in the
\ncountry, creating the impression that Indonesia was no longer
\nsafe for investment.<\/p>\n
That put off foreign investors, harming the country's efforts
\nto overcome the multidimensional crisis that has plagued
\nIndonesia since 1997.<\/p>\n
It is feared that similar rallies should the U.S. attack Iraq
\nwould cause even more damage to the battered economy, harm
\nbilateral relations between Indonesia and the U.S. and also
\nencourage radical groups to rally against the U.S., which could
\ndestabilize Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also has never disclosed whether it would support
\nany attacks if they were endorsed by a UN resolution.<\/p>\n
Ikrar said Megawati should not wait for an attack before
\ndeciding her position on the issue.<\/p>\n
\"She has to take anticipatory measures before there is any
\npolitical chaos, which would only hurt her already weakening
\nadministration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hassan, after the meeting with the religious leaders last
\nFriday, reiterated Indonesia's position that war, for any reason,
\ncould not be justified on the grounds of morality and humanity.<\/p>\n
He also said Megawati might send an envoy to European and
\nAsian countries to try and reach a consensus on how to avoid war.<\/p>",
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