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."