Alwi summons U.S. ambassador

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)