Amien fumes over alleged U.S. advice in govt matters
JAKARTA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo are both fuming over suggestions allegedly made by the U.S. ambassador on the possible lineup of key government posts.
The uproar was over allegations that the U.S. ambassador tried to "interfere" in government matters by preventing any possible move to replace Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) chairman Glenn Yusuf.
"Quiet honestly I am really, really disappointed that a superpower country should interfere in Cabinet affairs through its ambassador," Amien said following the swearing in of the Cabinet at the State Palace on Friday.
Amien initially refused to mention which superpower he was referring to. "You know yourself who the superpower is whose ambassador went beyond the bounds of diplomatic norms to press the finance minister into not replacing certain personnel."
When pressed further and directly asked if he was referring to the United States, Amien replied: "Which other superpower is there?"
Amien said he would personally meet with the ambassador in question and "warn him" that the action was "unethical and without etiquette".
"I really don't like the methods used by that superpower nation's ambassador in interfering with the finance minister," the Assembly speaker said.
The United States recently posted Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard to Indonesia to replace J. Stapleton Roy.
Gelbard was one of the first guests to be received by President Abdurrahman Wahid shortly after he was elected into office.
Gelbard praised the Cabinet on Thursday and specifically lauded several of its members.
He said he had not yet met Bambang although he had heard of Bambang's good credentials.
Separately, when later asked for confirmation, Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo said there were suggestions not to replace Glenn.
"I believe I should reject any foreign intervention because we are a sovereign nation," he said in his office.
"I refuse to be pressured by anyone. I also have a strong political backing, so why should I be afraid?" he said without saying whether or not he actually met or discussed the matter with the American ambassador.
When asked whether reports that Glenn might be replaced were true, Bambang denied he ever made any suggestion, adding that he only heard of it through media reports.
"You should ask them (the media themselves) and Glenn. You can also ask the U.S. ambassador because he knows a lot," Bambang sharply remarked.
Ambassador Gelbard could not be reached for comment with embassy staff referring the issue to the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs officer Richard D. Gong.
However, when asked by The Jakarta Post on Friday evening, Gong said: "The embassy does not have any comment ... You should confirm with your foreign ministry on that matter."
Foreign ministry officials could not be contacted for confirmation. (04/udi/emf)