Amien fumes over alleged U.S. advice in govt matters
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)