Gabsi wants political help in bid to host 2003 Bermuda Bowl
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi) is hoping for political assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs in support of its bid to host the Bermuda Bowl -- the world's most prestigious bridge tournament.
"The department should try to get the United States to ease the policy warning its citizens against traveling to Indonesia in the wake of the September 11 incident," Amran Zamzami, a Gabsi advisory board member, said upon the national team's arrival at Soekarno-Hatta airport here on Tuesday.
The team, which came second in the Rosenblum Cup in Montreal, Canada, was received by Gabsi officials led by outgoing chairman, General (ret) Wiranto.
The team comprised Eddy Manoppo, Henky Lasut, Denny Sacul, Franky Karwur, Robert Tobing, Taufik Hasby and non-playing captain Munawar Sawirudin.
The Rosenblum Cup is a quadrennial international team bridge championship that traditionally draws strong teams from around the world.
The Montreal meet featured 160 teams from 70 countries. Given the number and the strength of the participants, the Rosenblum Cup is the second most important bridge competition after the Bermuda Bowl, whose latest edition was staged in Paris last year.
Bali, the tourism island in the southern part of Indonesia, was actually to have hosted the tournament in October, but the World Bridge Federation (WBF) abruptly shifted it to Paris because of security fears arising from the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
Indonesia hopes that the WBF will reexplore the possibility of allowing the 2003 Bermuda Bowl to be held in Bali.
Amran, who acted as team manager in Montreal, warned of the strength of American influence in the WBF and the need for the American administration to lift a policy he described as akin to a "cultural embargo" on Indonesia.
"At this juncture, we are turning to our Department of Foreign Affairs for help," he said, adding that Indonesia would be in competition with Mexico and Poland for the hosting of the 2003 championship.
However, Gabsi will have to prioritize resolving its internal problems first following the resignation of Hatta Radjasa after only one month in his job as the organization's chairman.
Hatta, who is also Minister of Research and Technology, resigned on Aug. 14, saying that he did not have authorization from President Megawati Sukarnoputri to take on the job.
Wiranto, who leads a five-strong team tasked with selecting the members of the new Gabsi board, said that he would coordinate with bridge organizations at the provincial level to find a replacement for Hatta.
Wiranto refused to specify how much time would be needed for this. "The issue will be resolved as soon as possible," said the former Indonesian Military chief.