U.S. pledges to continue helping Indonesian govt<\/p>\n
By Yenni Djahidin<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (JP): The United States has promised to continue
\nhelping Indonesia to become a democratic, prosperous and united
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a conference sponsored by the U.S.-Indonesia
\nSociety, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and
\nPacific affairs Ralph Boyce said on Tuesday that President George
\nW. Bush's administration was fully aware of the importance of
\nIndonesia to the United States.<\/p>\n
Recognizing that Indonesia's current transition to democracy
\nwould be a long process, he said the U.S. was committed to do
\nwhat it could to help.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, as the world's fourth largest country and with the
\nlargest Muslim population of any single nation, really mattered
\nto the United States, he said. \"The success or failure of
\nIndonesia's democratic transition is going to have an effect on
\nthe future and democracy throughout that region and probably
\nworldwide,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The United States was helping Indonesia in several areas,
\nincluding technical assistance for taxation, legal reforms,
\ndecentralization, economic restructuring and institution-
\nbuilding, such as helping with the police force.<\/p>\n
Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY), chairman of the senate committee
\non foreign relations, East Asian and Pacific affairs
\nsubcommittee, told the conference that he endorsed the idea for
\nthe two countries to reestablish military cooperation, sharing
\nideas and working together.<\/p>\n
But he quickly rejected the idea of sending American troops
\nto Indonesia for a peace-keeping mission.<\/p>\n
Senator Thomas admitted that, like many Americans, he did not
\nhave a comprehensive understanding about Indonesia, but he
\nstressed that the Bush Administration would have the
\nsame human rights values as the previous Clinton administration.<\/p>\n
\"Our interests, U.S. interests, have focused a great deal on
\ncountries that are seeking to be democratic and allowing freedom
\nfor their people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The differences between the two administrations may be in the
\nways these interests are articulated, he said. \"But in terms of
\nseeking to help the country transform, seeking to help a country
\nthat has gone down economically, I think our priorities will
\nstill be there,\" he added.<\/p>\n
American business leaders at the conference expressed hope
\nabout Indonesia's future. Senior vice president of Freeport
\nMcMoran Russell King said he was optimistic that things would
\nwork out for the best in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia was going through a natural, though difficult,
\nprocess to become more democratic, he said. \"There will be trial
\nand error in the learning process, but we are committed
\nto the long-term in Indonesia,\" King said.<\/p>\n
Freeport McMoran would work with the government selected by
\nthe Indonesian people, no matter who was chosen as leader, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
When asked about security concerns, such as the closure of
\nMobil-Exxon's oil and gas exploration and production
\nin Aceh, King said Freeport was committed to staying in Irian
\nJaya, where it has a huge copper and gold mining operation.<\/p>\n
Michael Gadbaw of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council said any
\ninvestor looking at Indonesia had to be very cautious.<\/p>\n
Companies committed to Indonesia continue to operate there,
\nbut were watching developments very closely, he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the impact of the suspension of Exxon
\noperations in Aceh, Gadbaw said American investors were concerned
\nabout the impact of Exxon's decision.<\/p>\n
Investors wanted to see how Indonesia was going to deal with
\nthis kind of regional and ethnic violence, he said.<\/p>\n
The situation will be watched very closely to see what
\nhappens. And how it develops will obviously make a big impact on
\nthe perception of risk for future investors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab called on the United
\nStates to re-establish military cooperation.<\/p>\n
He said the suspension of U.S. military assistance to
\nIndonesia had hampered the ability of the Indonesian military to
\nhelp the National Police in emergency situations, such as in
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
Shihab said that Secretary of State Colin Powell during a
\nmeeting on Monday reiterated Washington's support for Indonesia
\nin resolving its national challenges in democratic,
\nconstitutional and peaceful ways.<\/p>\n
The one-day seminar was held by the United States-Indonesia
\nSociety. Among those who attended were Indonesian Ambassador
\nDorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Donald Emerson from Stanford
\nUniversity, former state enterprises minister Laksamana Sukardi,
\nMuslim thinker Nurcholis Madjid, and former minister of state and
\nadministrative reform Ryaas Rasyid.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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