RI still recognizes Saddam as `legitimate leader'<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government took a cautious stance in the wake of
\nthe fall of Baghdad to the coalition forces, saying Jakarta was
\nwaiting for further information in Iraq before it took a clear
\nposition.<\/p>\n
Minister of foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Thursday
\nthat Indonesia would continue to recognize Saddam Hussein as the
\nlegitimate president of Iraq until there was a clearer status in
\nthat country.<\/p>\n
\"Up to this minute yes, until we confirm the real situation in
\nthat country... We are seeking a further clarification whether
\nSaddam's regime has already collapsed or not, and (we're) waiting
\nfor the formation of an interim government,\" Hassan said after
\nCabinet meeting on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
He further emphasized that it was too early to judge the true
\nsituation in Iraq, and to perceive the real aspirations of the
\nIraqi people concerning the ongoing developments.<\/p>\n
Indonesia was among a host of countries that staunchly opposed
\nU.S.-led intervention in Iraq, and considered it aggression.<\/p>\n
The scenes of the recent fall of Baghdad and of the jubilant
\nIraqi people, broadcast live all over the world, has prompted
\nIndonesia to review its stance on Iraq and Saddam's regime.<\/p>\n
Hassan said that the government needs more evidence, in
\naddition to just the fall of Baghdad, that Saddam no longer rules
\nIraq.<\/p>\n
\"Before deciding on a political stance, we also have to take
\ninto account whether the whole process of repairing the
\ninfrastructure damaged during the war, as well as the
\nestablishment of an interim government there, will be coordinated
\nby the United Nations (UN) or not and whether or not it wins the
\nfull support from the Iraqi people,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been of one voice against the war and urged the
\nUN to play an active role in maintaining world order.<\/p>\n
As the war comes nearer to an end, the Iraqi people have
\nexpressed great support for the U.S. and coalition forces and
\ncalled them freedom fighters.<\/p>\n
The Iraqi people's jubilation has seemingly helped to justify
\nthe war and could likely mean a greater role for the U.S. and its
\nallies in reconstructing Iraq and forming a new administration to
\nreplace Saddam's regime.<\/p>\n
U.S. President George W. Bush who was heartened by Baghdad's
\nfall, once said that the UN would play an important role in post-
\nwar Iraq, especially to handle the war's negative impacts on the
\ncountry and its people.<\/p>\n
\"What we would like to see is the U.S. keep its word and not
\nstay there to occupy the country,\" Hassan remarked.<\/p>\n
The minister reiterated the call for the UN to take a leading
\nrole in the reconstruction program and the planned formation of
\nthe new government in Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"The attack ignored the UN and it should not happen again in
\nthe next two major phases in post-war Iraq,\" Hassan stressed.<\/p>\n
He said further that Indonesia would not absolutely recognize
\nthe interim government in post-war Iraq, unless certain
\nconditions prevailed.<\/p>\n
\"We usually accept the sovereignty of a country, but this will
\nnot always happen with any new government, as was the case in
\npost-war Afghanistan,\" the minister said, referring to
\nIndonesia's current lack of recognition of Afghanistan's Hamid
\nKarzai.<\/p>\n
\"There are always certain areas or fields on which we have to
\nremain neutral. For example, the protection of the people. We
\nhave to pay more attention to the protection of the Iraqi people
\nregardless of that country's political situation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hassan also appreciated the people's strong opposition to the
\nwar and the moral movement by religious communities to launch the
\nanti-war campaign before and during the attack on Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"All these are a good precedence for the nation to form a
\nconsultation forum between the government and the people in
\nresponding to all things concerning Indonesia and its friendly
\ncountries in the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But unlike the people and religious communities, the
\ngovernment fell short of condemning the attack on Iraq. It
\n\"strongly deplored\" the war and called for the UN to hold a
\ngeneral assembly to pressure the coalition forces to halt the
\nwar.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-still-recognizes-saddam-as-legitimate-leader-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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