Alwi summons U.S. ambassador

JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said on Thursday he had summoned U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Gelbard to clarify local media reports that the envoy had tried to influence a recent Army appointment.

Alwi said the ambassador, who was summoned on Wednesday, had denied the reports.

"I asked for a clarification ... He said 'it's not true that I tried to influence the President over the appointment of a position in the TNI (Indonesian Military),'" Alwi told reporters before a Cabinet meeting.

Local reports accused Gelbard of trying to influence the appointment this month of a new Army chief.

Alwi said a threat made against the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and the envoy himself had been behind a decision to close the facility to the public from Wednesday until Friday.

The move to suspend the embassy's public service was the first to happen during the history of U.S.-Indonesia relations.

Alwi added that he told the ambassador during the Wednesday meeting not to worry about the menaces.

"Anybody can make a phone call and it should not be taken seriously," he said.

U.S. officials have not given details of the threat, and Alwi did not elaborate.

The U.S. Embassy has been the subject of almost daily protests by students and Muslim groups since violence erupted between Israelis and Palestinians earlier this month.

Muslim groups and students here have accused Washington of siding with the Jewish state.

The embassy issued a notice based on a State Department announcement on Tuesday reporting "credible information" of a possible attack.

"In response to credible information of a threat to the embassy compound, the ambassador and his team decided to close the public services for the remainder of the week," spokesman for the U.S. State Department Philip Reeker said.

Alwi said Gelbard raised concerns during talks on Wednesday about the rise of anti-U.S. sentiment in Indonesia, and the possibility of closing the embassy, which Alwi opposed.

"Don't let that happen because the effects would not be positive. It is as if the relations between the two countries were being disturbed," he said. "Don't let minor problems turn into big ones," he added.

Misunderstanding

Later in the day, Defense Minister Mahfud M.D. said that President Abdurrahman Wahid had told him during the Cabinet meeting to meet with Gelbard to clear up any misunderstandings between the two.

Mahfud has been at odds with Gelbard over the former's statement that the envoy intervened in the deportation of a U.S. citizen accused of spying in Irian Jaya.

"The President asked me, together with the foreign minister, to explain it (the controversy) in order to ease tensions.

"But in my opinion it's not too important because the controversy is only in the newspapers. So it should be settled in the newspapers. But if the problems are getting serious, I will meet him (Gelbard) together with Pak Alwi Shihab," Mahfud said.

The U.S. Embassy said on Monday that it was "dismayed and perplexed" by Mahfud's "false charges."

Mahfud added on Thursday that he had nothing personal against Gelbard.

"Personally, I like Gelbard and I don't want to become his enemy, but when it comes to defense, security and the country's territorial integrity I think I have to speak out for the aspirations of my people," Mahfud said.

Mahfud, who was virtually an unknown scholar before the last Cabinet reshuffle in August, has been notorious for his habit of denying or backtracking on statements he has made. (byg)