Govt pledges to protect foreign interests

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.