Govt pledges to protect foreign interests

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian security authorities vowed to protect foreign interests in the country amid increasing fears of anti-Western violence should the United States and its allies attack Iraq.

Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said they were prepared to handle any unrest.

They conceded unrest was likely in the event of an attack.

"We have an obligation to protect all things, including foreign interests, if the Iraqi war brings negative impacts and raises a negative response to the situation at home," Endriartono said.

Thousands of Muslims have marched near the United States and British embassies in Jakarta over the last few days to protest against the likely attack on the sovereignty of the predominantly Muslim country.

Indonesia saw a wave of anti-U.S. demonstrations and many extreme groups sought to expel American citizens from Indonesia following the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan in 2001.

The U.S, was last night set to dismiss Iraq's response to UN disarmament demands as inadequate, saying UN weapons inspectors had reported that Iraq was not willing to comply with inspectors.

The world is bracing for war in Iraq as the U.S. has insisted that even without the support of their allies and the UN, Washington will attack Iraq in the near future.

Despite strong opposition from numerous countries, the U.S and its allies, mainly the United Kingdom and Australia, look set to attack, claiming that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom have deployed a massive force in the Middle East.

Indonesia, the biggest Muslim country in the world, has opposed any action against any nation, including Iraq, without the support of the UN Security Council.

Endriartono declined to disclose what preparations the military was making but insisted that both the TNI and the police had taken the necessary steps to protect foreigners and foreign interests in Indonesia.

"We do not have to tell you where we deploy our troops. The important thing is that we're prepared to face the worst."

Da'i concurred, saying police were in charge of security at home and would work closely with the military to protect foreigners and maintain the safety of foreign missions and their assets.

Police would tighten security in strategic places in the country to prevent possible anti-U.S. rallies from turning violent, he said.

"We respect freedom of expression but, please, do not disturb security because such action will discredit the country overseas," the four-star general said.

Besides foreign missions, Indonesia is home to tens of thousands of Britons, Americans and Australians and a number of big companies. American companies operating in Indonesia include PT Freeport, ExxonMobil, PT Caltex Indonesia and PT Conoco. Britain and Australia have also invested in the country.

Vice President Hamzah Haz reiterated that Indonesia would oppose any action against Iraq without the support of the UN.

"We hope the United States could exercise self-restraint as any attack on Iraq will destabilize the world and bring negative impacts in Indonesia."

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid also expressed opposition to any attack on Iraq, saying Iraqi people, suffering already under the rule of Hussein, would suffer further.

"But Indonesians should not show a misleading solidarity because the Iraqi issue is not about Islam," he said as quoted by the Antara news agency.

He said it would be wrong if people used Islam to garner sympathy for Iraq.