Business group worried by threats to foreigners
Business group worried by threats to foreigners
Antara, Jakarta
The Association of Indonesian Indigenous Businesspeople
(Hippi) expressed concern on Saturday over threats made by
radical groups to force Americans to leave the country as it was
feared they would worsen Indonesia's image.
Hippi's chairman Suryo B. Sulisto said that such threats could
also hamper the country's efforts to recover from the current
economic crisis after obtaining support and fresh investment
commitments from developed countries, including the United
States.
"We fully support the government's decision to ban any plan to
carry out sweeps against American citizens. If necessary, the
Indonesian Military (TNI) should help the National Police
maintain security and enforce the law," he told a media briefing.
Suryo, who was a member of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
entourage to the U.S. last week, said that the trip had brought
optimism of economic recovery, but such hope might be discouraged
by rising anti-American sentiment in the country.
He said that the Indonesian economy had been affected by the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., one of the major markets
for Indonesian exports.
The incidents had also hurt Indonesia's tourism, as many
holidaymakers from that country had canceled their trips to the
archipelago, he said.
"We're shocked to see such sentiments expressed here. As a
Muslim myself I appeal to my fellow Muslims to cool down. Let's
focus on how to overcome more urgent problems, including
unemployment and education," Suryo said, as quoted by Antara.
Suryo added that as the largest Muslim country, Indonesia was
respected by other countries. The positive image, he said, should
be maintained by avoiding any actions that could ignite political
tension.
"Please don't worsen our situation by carrying out sweeps or
by threatening foreigners," he said.
House of Representatives' member Yasril Ananta Baharuddin,
another member of the President's entourage to the U.S., affirmed
on Sunday that so far there were no foreigners yet in Indonesia
who had suffered from these activities.
He even deplored U.S. ambassador Robert Gelbard's remark,
saying the police were unable to protect foreigners.
"It's a personal statement that can cause misunderstanding, as
if there were Americans whose lives were threatened here.
Gelbard's statement could brand Indonesia with a negative image
as being unable to protect foreigners and could create the
impression that Indonesian Muslims are extremists," he said as
soon as he arrived in Jakarta.
Separately, the West Sumatra Forum of Indonesian Muslim
Solidarity (FSMIS) condemned the U.S. plan to attack Afghanistan,
saying that all Muslim organizations in the region were against a
show of force.
FSMIS secretary Irfianda Abiddin told Antara in the West
Sumatra capital of Padang that the Muslim organizations would
sign a petition on Oct. 1 addressed to Jakarta and the U.S.
Embassy, urging the U.S. to stop discrediting Muslims.
Irfianda said that the recent demonstrations at the U.S.
Embassy in Jakarta and threats by several Indonesian Muslim
organizations against U.S. assets and its citizens were actually
to warn the U.S. not to attack Afghanistan.