Bush makes stopover in Bali, lends support to Megawati

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

Against the advice of his own security people, U.S. President George Walker Bush made a lightning stopover in Kuta, Bali on Wednesday, lending much-needed support to President Megawati Soekarnoputri's campaign against terrorism.

The visit, the fifth leg of his six-nation Asia-Pacific tour, came just over one year after two powerful bomb explosions, blamed on the regional terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), ripped through Kuta, killing over 200 people.

Security was extremely tight in and around the Ngurah Rai airport and Patra Bali Hotel, where President Bush held bilateral talks with his Indonesian counterpart President Megawati and a dialog with five religious leaders.

Thousands of security officers, including the U.S. Secret Service and Marines, along with four warships and four U.S.-made F-16 warplanes were on high alert throughout the visit.

In a joint press conference with President Megawati, Bush praised Indonesia for its role in the global campaign against terrorism.

"America appreciates Indonesia's strong cooperation in the war on terror," said Bush, adding that the U.S. believed that freedom and democracy were critical in defeating terrorism.

Authorities have arrested and put on trial over 30 suspected JI members for their role in the deadly Bali bombings last Oct. 12, 2002. Three of them are now on death row.

Dozens of suspects have also been detained for their role in the JW Marriot Hotel terrorist attack that killed at least 14 people last Aug. 5.

Earlier, Indonesia enacted a law on terrorism that promotes the death sentence for convicted terrorists.

Calling on Indonesia as a vital partner and a friend to America, Bush said that the two countries stand together against terrorism.

He also stressed that cooperation between the two countries has grown stronger over the years.

"The partnership between our two peoples is strong and growing stronger... Indonesia will have a firm ally in the American government and you will have the friendship and the respect of the American people," Bush said.

Megawati, on her side, said that she attached great importance to bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United States for both were the largest democratic countries in the world and great potential lay in their cooperation.

She also said that the U.S. supported the democratization process here and the country's territorial integrity.

President Megawati said that in the 30-minutes meeting with Bush and the luncheon with Indonesian cabinet ministers, various bilateral issues were discussed, such as military to military cooperation, economic issues and education.

"Despite the fact that we do not always share a common perspective, we both continue to hold a mutual understanding, that it is in the interests of the two countries to maintain consultations and cooperation in the pursuit of global peace," Megawati said.

The stopover was made possible after Bush himself insisted that he wanted to visit Indonesia as part of his Asia Pacific tour. The tour also brought him to Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia.

Due to security reasons, the visit was the shortest among the visits to the six countries. Excessive security measures, including a four-hour no-fly zone at the Ngurah Rai airport were applied during the stopover.

Since morning all streets around the airport and the Patra hotel were closed to the public, causing traffic congestion around the usually quiet area.

Many passengers had to drag their luggage all the way to the Ngurah Rai conjunction, which is around three kilometers away from the venue as no public or private transportation was allowed to pass.

A few kilometers away from the venue, dozens of people from various organizations, such as Indonesia's Muslim Students Association (HMI), Muhammadiyah Student's Group (IMM) and People's Opposition Party (POPOR) staged a rally against the visit.

Carrying banners denouncing Bush's foreign policies, the protesters demanded that Bush stay away from Indonesia. The rally ended peacefully as soon as Bush continued with his journey to Australia, the last leg of his Asia Pacific tour.