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.