Asia reacts with outrage at Howard's comment

Asia reacts with outrage at Howard's comment

Lely T. Djuhari, Associated Press, Jakarta

Asian countries reacted with outrage and described as arrogant comments by Australian Prime Minister John Howard that he was prepared to strike pre-emptively against terrorists who use neighboring Asian countries as bases to attack Australian interests.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marti Natalegawa said on Sunday that Australia had no right to take military action in other countries.

"Fortunately, states cannot willy-nilly flout international law and norms. We have to work within the system," he told The Associated Press.

Thailand's government spokesman Ratthakit Manathat said that any Australian request to conduct operations on Thai soil would require "highly cautious consideration."

"Nobody does anything like this," he said. "Each country has its own sovereignty, that must be protected."

Philippine National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said governments must work together rather than one country acting unilaterally.

"It's not wise and it doesn't follow ... the doctrine of peacekeeping and sovereignty," he said. "Sovereignty is not decided by fight, it's decided by right."

On Australian television on Sunday, Howard suggested the United Nations Charter be amended to permit a country to launch pre-emptive strikes against terrorists in other states.

Marti said Jakarta understood Australia's "horrific experience" in recent terrorist attacks -- including the bombings in Bali -- but "in the fight against terror, no country can act above the law and norms. The change has to be decided by the 190- odd members of the UN and this is not easy." Indonesian legislator Alvin Lie said Howard's statement, "is very dangerous."

"Howard should learn to control himself," he said. "Indonesia and Australia are both victims. I strongly support increased cooperation among neighboring countries to fight terrorism but not attacks."

A spokesman for a left-wing group in the Philippines, Bayan, said his members would now protest against Australia, instead of the United States, and described Howard as a "bully."

"That's a very arrogant statement," Renato Reyes told The Associated Press. "It's no different from those coming from the United States."

He said such plans would violate the Philippines' sovereignty and urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo not to let Howard's statement pass without rebuke.

"Arroyo would be a laughing stock if she would allow this threatening statement to pass," he said.