FM defends response to threats

FM defends response to threats

Agence France-Presse, Jakarta

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda on Friday defended
Indonesia's response to threats by hardline leaders against
Americans and Britons over U.S.-led military strikes on
Afghanistan.

Hassan said the government had made serious efforts to
increase protection for embassies. No Americans had actually been
hurt despite threats to expel them from the country.

"There is a lot of rhetoric about sweeping (expulsions), but
no single American has been harmed, we thank God for that," the
minister told foreign correspondents and diplomats.

The absence of any police action to arrest those threatening
to expel foreigners or attack U.S. interests has irritated some
expatriates including U.S. ambassador Robert Gelbard. Police have
countered that they are respecting freedom of speech.

Hassan said the government was taking a multi-faceted approach
to dealing with agitators, of which law enforcement was only one
small part.

"We already deployed seven (police) battalions. It's not that
easy to deploy seven battalions and it cost a lot of money but we
did because it's our commitment," he said.

"Second... we are talking with various groups, (telling them)
that in expressing themselves we understand their emotions, but
at the same time we are (telling) them to observe the rules."

The minister said the government had seen progress in calming
the situation. "You may not appreciate it but we can appreciate
there is a definite improvement in the situation."

Hassan denied that the government was waiting until somebody
had been hurt before making arrests and said authorities needed
to distinguish whether threats were serious or not.

"If someone threatens to kill you and brings with them
machetes, yes certainly our police would immediately act... but
if it's just shouting loud in the air, perhaps there's a gap
there between real intentions to kill and just shouting to
express their anger," he said.

"If groups of people (after praying at a nearby mosque) going
past the residence of the United States ambassador say 'Oh we'll
kill you,' can we say that they really want to kill?"

"Of course we take it seriously if it leads to real action to
kill."

He said the tone and size of demonstrations on Friday, the
Islamic holy day, would indicate whether the daily anti-U.S.
protests -- turning out to be small in number and representing
small hardline groups only -- would snowball.

"Generally you know Muslim populations in Indonesia are quite
moderate. The other statements from larger organizations like
Muhammidiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, I think their positions are not
as radical as the expressions of some smaller groups."