New envoy accredited as U.S.-Indonesia ties chill<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Senior U.S. diplomat Ralph Leo \"Skip\" Boyce presented his
\ncredentials to President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday amid
\nsigns of chilling ties between Indonesia and the United States
\ndue to differences regarding the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
The new ambassador, experienced in Southeast Asian affairs,
\nformally began his tenure in Jakarta barely a week after what
\nmany analysts suggest was a snub by President George W. Bush
\ntoward Megawati while the leaders attended an Asia-Pacific summit
\nin Shanghai.<\/p>\n
Boyce held a brief meeting with Megawati after officially
\npresenting his credentials at Merdeka Palace. He made no
\nstatement to journalists when leaving.<\/p>\n
Megawati failed to meet with Bush when they were in Shanghai
\nfor the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit at the
\nweekend, although a formal request had been made on her behalf
\nfor an opportunity to explain Jakarta's response to U.S. attacks
\non terrorist targets in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
The White House had earlier expressed its irritation at
\nMegawati's veiled criticism of the United States after she, in a
\nwidely publicized statement, said that no country had the right
\nto attack another and that blood could not be cleansed with
\nblood.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Embassy was the scene of many anti-American protests
\nin the week immediately following the start of the U.S. bombing
\ncampaign in Afghanistan on Oct. 7.<\/p>\n
In spite of the existing state of relations, Boyce's
\nappointment has been widely welcomed in Jakarta. His predecessor,
\nRobert S. Gelbard, was frequently caught in a war of words with
\nIndonesian officials and politicians, to the point that some
\npoliticians had called for his expulsion.<\/p>\n
The possibility that relations with Washington were cooling
\nwas implied in Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda's
\nstatement after Boyce's meeting at the palace, when he said,
\n\"Hopefully, with Ambassador Boyce, we can enhance our
\nrelationship with the United States.\"<\/p>\n
Compounding problems in the diplomatic landscape is the fact
\nthat Indonesia has yet to appoint an envoy to Washington to
\nreplace Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-jakti, who was summoned home by
\nMegawati in July to become her chief economics minister.<\/p>\n
Hassan said that the government was evaluating the potential
\ncandidates, which must be approved by the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
\"The process is under way. The post will be filled as soon as
\npossible,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sources within the ministry said that two names on the
\nshortlist are Sumadi Brotodiningrat, a senior diplomat and
\ncurrently ambassador to Japan, and economist Sri Edi Swasono.
\nSenior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\npolitician Jacob Tobing is also reported to have set his sights
\non the Washington post.<\/p>\n
Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced that the government
\nhad recruited former foreign ministers Ali Alatas and Alwi Shihab
\nand former minister of defense Juwono Sudarsono as part of a new
\nteam to help promote Indonesia's foreign policy.<\/p>\n
\"We feel that we need special envoys to promote our foreign
\npolicy and strengthen our diplomacy,\" Susilo said while attending
\na seminar.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda met with U.S.
\nSecretary of State Colin Powell in Shanghai to reiterate
\nJakarta's support for an international campaign against
\nterrorism, stressing, however, the need for an active role to be
\nplayed by the United Nations.<\/p>\n
Hassan also appealed for Washington to stop the attacks before
\nthe Muslim Ramadhan fasting month commenced in mid-November,
\nsaying that a continued campaign could have a destabilizing
\neffect on Indonesia and other predominantly Muslim countries.<\/p>\n
Prior to his Jakarta assignment, Boyce served as deputy
\nsecretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs. His previous foreign
\npostings include Thailand and Singapore. Born in Washington on
\nFebruary 1, 1952, he is married to Kathryn Sligh, with two
\nchildren.<\/p>",
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