Alwi plans Maluku diplomacy at ASEAN meeting

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab plans to use next week's meeting with world and regional leaders in Bangkok to explain Indonesia's efforts to restore peace in Maluku.

The tone of his diplomacy will underscore Indonesia's rejection of foreign intervention amidst growing foreign pressure on Jakarta to end the conflict or bring in international help.

Alwi told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok.

"Among other things, the discussion will be about Maluku, so there will be no distortion about the area and about the fact that Indonesia does not need foreign intervention," he said of the meeting, tentatively scheduled for July 24.

Alwi said while there he also planned to meet with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Guangya concerning Maluku.

Indonesia would not feel comfortable with foreign troops landing on its soil and the government has taken several measures to calm the situation in Maluku. Alwi said that is the message he hoped to convey to the world leaders in Bangkok.

"They have to understand that it is not easy to restore peace in Maluku and we (the government) will try all kinds of things to settle the problems," he said.

The annual ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, which opens in the Thai capital on Sunday, will be followed by a series of meetings with the group's major trading partners, including the United States, Japan and Australia.

Alwi said he plans to travel to New York after the ASEAN meeting to bring the same message to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Monday that he received a phone call from Annan inquiring about the Maluku situation.

The President stressed that Indonesia is doing its utmost to end the conflict and that when the situation merited, Jakarta would seek foreign help, but only in the form of equipment and logistics, as part of humanitarian assistance.

Church leaders in Maluku have called for international intervention, saying that the Indonesian Military (TNI) has failed to protect lives and property of the people.

Their demand was echoed by the World Council of Churches, which made a similar plea to the United Nations on Friday.

The mere suggestion of foreign assistance quickly provoked a massive chorus denouncing any move to internationalize the Maluku conflict.

Matori Abdul Djalil, deputy chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, called on the nation to work hard to prevent international intervention in Maluku.

"We should avoid it. It will bring shame to the nation," Matori said.

Yasril Ananta Baharuddin, Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives, urged the public to support the government in trying to end the Maluku problem.

Yasril stressed that it was the responsibility of the whole nation to end the sectarian conflicts in Maluku.

National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo said he did not wish to see any foreign troops entering Maluku.

"The deployment of foreign soldiers in any form, as a peacekeeping force or civilian police, is a violation of our sovereignty," Rusdihardjo told reporters.

But at the same time Indonesia should also prove that it can handle the problems, Rusdihardjo said.

Army Chief of staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, speaking in Medan, completely rejected foreign assistance.

"We believe the Indonesian people are still capable of handling the Maluku problem," Tyasno said as quoted by Antara in Medan, North Sumatra.

The general also promised to punish any Army personnel taking sides in the conflict.

The secretary of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) chapter in Maluku, Soleman Rachman, flatly rejected foreign intervention in Maluku, "the conflict is an internal matter and must be solved by (Maluku people) themselves."

"Interference is not a guarantee the conflicts will be completely stopped. Such action will only tarnish the country's image," Soleman said in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Lambang Trijono of the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Gadjah Mada University, supported the government stance but said the government could accept foreign advice.

"Developed countries like the U.S. could send experts on civil security affairs," Lambang Trijono said. (08/27/44/edt/dja/jun)