Citizens barred from joining Afghan war

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government issued a strict ban on Thursday against Indonesians planning to go to Afghanistan to fight against the United States, as Washington's ultimatum to the Taliban regime in Kabul drew closer to its deadline.

Announcing Jakarta's position on the seemingly imminent conflict between a U.S.-led international coalition and the Taliban regime in Kabul, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said any war against international terrorism should be led by the United Nations.

The announcement, coming after a six-hour Cabinet meeting led by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, addressed both the international as well as domestic implications if the United States went ahead with its threat to attack Afghanistan.

But it was the domestic aspect that had the government worried, with several Muslim organizations vowing to declare a holy war against the United States if Afghanistan was attacked.

"The government has an obligation to protect its citizens," Susilo said on the ban against volunteers taking part in the war.

"The act of physically taking part in a foreign war is not acceptable," he said, adding however that the government would use persuasive measures to discourage Indonesians from going to Afghanistan.

Asked what would happen if they defied the ban, Susilo said: "We have yet to decide on what to do."

The Indonesian Ulemas Council, an umbrella group for all Muslim groups in the country, has warned that any attack on Afghanistan would be construed as an attack on an Islamic state. The council supported the call for a jihad, but stressed that there was no need for Indonesians to physically join the war.

The government echoed that sentiment on Tuesday, with Susilo stressing that Indonesia's role could take the form of humanitarian assistance.

"Indonesians can only be involved in foreign military operations as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force," he said.

The government on Thursday also warned radical organizations not to carry out their threats to harm Americans or other foreigners if an attack on Afghanistan materialized.

While defending the right of the people to conduct peaceful and orderly demonstrations, like the anti-U.S. protests outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, Susilo said the government would take stern action against people who burned the flags or symbols of other nations, or effigies of their heads of state.

"The security agencies will not hesitate to disperse or stop demonstrations that have the potential to erupt into anarchy," Susilo said.

The government would also take resolute action against persons or groups that conducted "sweeps" against foreigners, he said.

While most Indonesians have condemned the devastating terrorist attacks against the United States, they oppose Washington's plan to attack the Taliban regime.

Washington says the regime is harboring Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect for the Sept. 11 attacks.

Thursday was the first time that the issue of the imminent conflict and its repercussions at home and abroad were discussed at a full Cabinet meeting.

Megawati just returned on Sunday from a two-week trip that took her to the United States, where she gave her unequivocal support to the U.S. campaign against terrorism, and Japan.

Susilo said Indonesia insisted that the United Nations take the initiative in waging war on terrorism.

"Indonesia calls on the United Nations to take collective, effective and proper action in fighting terrorism.

"Any such action should not lead to another humanitarian tragedy," he said.

"Indonesia also called on all parties to prevent the outbreak of an open war which would endangered world peace and to prevent further loss of innocent lives," he said.

Indonesia, however, remained committed to joining the international fight against terrorism, he stressed.

Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that Indonesia would abide by the Security Council resolution calling on governments to freeze funds and assets belonging to terrorist organizations.

Indonesia welcomed the adoption of Resolution 1373 on Sept. 28 and would cooperate with the international community in preventing and in suppressing terrorism, it said.