U.S. Embassy responds<\/p>\n
In the midst of the terrible tragedy perpetrated on the United
\nStates, we have been heartened by the outpouring of expressions
\nof condolence from President Megawati Soekarnoputri and other
\nIndonesians of all walks of life and all religious faiths. We
\nalso greatly appreciated the expressions of deep condolence and
\nsupport for eradicating terrorism in The Jakarta Post's editorial
\nof September 13.<\/p>\n
Thus, we were deeply disappointed to read the comments of some
\nsenior Indonesian Government officials and commentators in the
\nSeptember 13 and 14 editions of the Jakarta Post that we fear
\ncould create an atmosphere of misunderstanding and hatred, rather
\nthan one of compassion and healing.<\/p>\n
In your article on page 2 of the September 13 Jakarta Post,
\nheaded \"U.S. warned against blaming Islamic groups for attacks,\"
\nthe individuals cited in this article unfortunately did not
\nexpress condolence for the victims of these cruel and cowardly
\nattacks. Instead, they preferred to criticize unjustifiably the
\nongoing investigation of this horrible crime that U.S. law
\nenforcement officials have already promised will be fair,
\nthorough and unprejudiced.<\/p>\n
Their comments betrayed a lack of understanding of the origins
\nand prevailing nature of the majority of today's international
\nterrorism, which, as Indonesia knows only too well, knows no
\nnationality or borders. Indonesians have been the victims of
\nterrorism in their own country and at least one Indonesian lost
\nhis life in Tuesday's terrorist attack in the United States. Last
\nyear, I tried to set up a briefing on international terrorism for
\none of the individuals quoted in your article, Juwono Soedarsono,
\nwhen he was still the Minister of Defense. He did not express
\ninterest.<\/p>\n
Even more disturbing were the anti-Semitic and misinformed
\ncomments of Dewi Fortuna Anwar, reported on the front page of the
\nSeptember 14 Jakarta Post under the heading \"Act together to
\nprevent violence.\" Her comments suggest that the terrible acts
\nagainst Americans and even acts of terrorism within Indonesia may
\nbe justified. Terrorism threatens all of humanity and can never,
\never be justified.<\/p>\n
That interview, and also comments in a page two article on
\nSeptember 14 headed, \"RI leaders ask U.S. to exercise restraint,\"
\nfurther imply that the United States Government is blaming
\nMuslims for these terrorist acts, which is simply not true. The
\nfact is that the United States seeks to bring the perpetrators to
\njustice on the basis of solid evidence, without rancor towards
\nany race or creed. The community of nations, including Muslim
\nnations such as Pakistan, has already expressed its strong
\nsupport for the efforts to bring these criminals against humanity
\nto justice. Some of America's strongest allies and closest
\nfriends are Islamic nations. Muslims, Christians, Jews and people
\nof other religious faiths are all valuable threads in the
\nAmerican social fabric, and Americans denounce prejudice against
\nany religious group.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, some individuals and groups have misused
\nreligion for grotesque and cruel purposes and past terrorist
\nactions have frequently been the work of fanatical religious
\ngroups. Tuesday's attacks in the United States were both massive
\nand sophisticated. Only a few organizations in the world have
\nthe sophistication, the knowledge and the financial resources to
\ninstigate such a series of horrendous terrorist attacks. Those
\ngroups are well known to Indonesian authorities, just as they are
\nto authorities in the United States.<\/p>\n
A beautiful tradition of all religious faiths is the
\nexpression of condolence in the face of tragedy. We have
\nreceived moving letters and floral tributes from so many
\nIndonesians of all religious faiths. Regrettably, none of those
\ninterviewed for the articles mentioned earlier have expressed
\ntheir condolences to us.<\/p>\n
President Bush has pledged that the United States will conduct
\na thorough investigation of this heartbreaking tragedy and bring
\nthose who perpetrated or abetted it to justice. Meanwhile, we
\nhope that all Indonesians will join us in mourning the loss of
\nthe lives of innocent people and condemning these attacks and all
\nterrorist actions, and will work with us in trying to eradicate
\nthe scourge of terrorism from the face of the earth.<\/p>\n
ROBERT S. GELBARD<\/p>\n
Ambassador,<\/p>\n
U.S. Embassy<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-embassy-responds-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }