Reports on U.S. military base request denied<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia adamantly denied yesterday reports
\nthat the United States had made requests to install a floating
\narms depot here.<\/p>\n
\"It's absolutely untrue,\" Indonesian Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas told reporters when asked to confirm the
\nreport in question.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a cabinet meeting at the Bina Graha
\npresidential office yesterday, Alatas said such a request was
\nunlikely to be granted since Washington fully understood
\nJakarta's disinterest in a foreign military presence.<\/p>\n
Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai announced in Bangkok on
\nMonday that he had rejected the United States' plea, made by
\nPresident Bill Clinton during Chuan's visit to Washington last
\nmonth, to place military cargo ships in the Gulf of Thailand.<\/p>\n
Leekpai personally told visiting U.S. Pacific Forces
\nCommander-in-Chief Adm. R. Macke on Monday of Bangkok's
\ndisapproval.<\/p>\n
The Thai premier cited his fear of inducing a misunderstanding
\nwith Thailand's fellow members in the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) should the proposal be accepted.<\/p>\n
ASEAN is a political-economic grouping which comprises
\nIndonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
Following Bangkok's rejection, foreign news agencies reported
\nthat the U.S. had also put forth a request to Indonesia and the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to comment nor give any grounds on why Thailand
\nrejected the offer, but one thing is certain and that is that no
\nsuch request was made to Indonesia,\" Alatas remarked.<\/p>\n
When confronted with the issue, Minister\/State Secretary
\nMoerdiono concurred with Alatas, saying that Indonesia is adamant
\nin its stance towards a foreign military presence.<\/p>\n
\"Obviously, we do not want foreign bases on our soil, whatever
\nform it may take,\" Moerdiono asserted.<\/p>\n
As an ASEAN member, Indonesia has long lobbied for a
\nSoutheast Asian region free of foreign military intervention.<\/p>\n
Though Indonesia would reject foreign military bases here,
\nAlatas said that such a position did not qualify as an automatic
\nrejection of U.S. military presence in the region.<\/p>\n
\"Their presence doesn't have to manifest itself in the shape
\nof a military base in Southeast Asia,\" Alatas noted. \"Their
\npresence in this large region of ours can be in the political and
\neconomic field.\"<\/p>\n
Balance<\/p>\n
Since the closure of the U.S. naval base at Subic Bay in the
\nPhilippines in 1992, American military presence in Southeast Asia
\nhas been at its lowest in several decades.<\/p>\n
However recent developments have shown the U.S. need for
\nseveral overseas military depots or even bases for logistical
\nsupport of its rapid deployment force.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is not saying that American military presence is
\nnot needed,\" Alatas said.<\/p>\n
He explained that in the north there are four major powers
\nwhich cannot be denied -- the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.<\/p>\n
\"American presence is necessary to create a balance between
\nthose major powers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about his perception of the overall security of the
\nregion, Alatas felt that East Asia and the Pacific are generally
\nmore stable than other regions in the world.<\/p>\n
To maintain the amicable climate, he called on all countries
\nin the region to work together by way of dialog and preventive
\ndiplomacy. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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