Govt told to counter bad image from anti-U.S. protests

Berni K. Moestafa and Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Foreign ambassadors and expatriates urged the government to counter the negative reporting of anti-U.S. rallies, warning that the bad image arising from the news was hurting investor sentiment.

American business consultant James Castle said on Friday that the government should do more to convince foreign investors of the real situation at home.

"Why are we doing all the public relations for Indonesia, why isn't Indonesia doing more?" he asked reporters after a meeting between expatriates and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.

The government, and foremost President Megawati Soekarnoputri, should issue stronger statements to calm the public, Castle said.

"Given the international climate, given Indonesia's difficult economic circumstances, they (the government) are being way too quiet," he said.

Jakarta on Friday saw its fifth consecutive day of anti-U.S. rallies since the start of U.S military strikes on Afghanistan last Sunday.

Fresh concerns over street violence have tempered the appetite of foreign investors for local assets, putting at risk the country's budget targets.

These concerns have also added to negative sentiment on the currency market, dragging the rupiah to renewed lows.

Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Baron van Heemstra said "the (security) situation is not as desperate as it looks."

He argued that negative reporting by the media had blown the anti-U.S. demonstrations out of all proportion.

"I call it the CNN Syndrome," said Belgian Ambassador Luc Darras, referring to the U.S. based television station, Cable News Network (CNN).

He further suggested that the government hold a dialog with the Indonesian public to explain to them the urgency of battling terrorism.

British Ambassador Richard Gozney struck a more concrete note by urging the police to continue guarding UK expatriates.

"We expect the police to arrest those who break the law," he said.

The British Embassy has often been the target of rallies as a result of Britain's active role in the strikes on Afghanistan.

Despite the protests, Gozney said, British expatriates were staying because they were confident of Indonesia's future.

For president of Mexico-based PT Cemex Indonesia, Francisco Noriega, and his staff, it was business as usual.

Noriega said the company was operating normally despite heightened security concerns in the capital.

But he advised the government to take "a stance and send a clear message" telling foreign investors that the anti-U.S. protesters represented only a minority in Indonesia.

Minister Hassan acknowledged that the local and international media had been exaggerating the anti-U.S. protests here.

"We have a very free and active media, and the same applies to the international media," Hassan told participants at the meeting.

He went on to reiterate the government's commitment to providing continued security for non-nationals.

"Many of them here are businessmen. They bring the country benefits," he said.

He also said the government would not bow to public pressure to condemn the U.S. attacks against Afghanistan.

On Monday, the government issued a statement, which cautioned America to limit its offensive against Afghanistan, but fell short of condemning the attacks.

"We see it as a war against terrorism, not against Islam," Hassan said. "We must educate people about this."

Yet Indonesia's moderate stance has created a dilemma for the government.

While enraging local critics, the stance has also made some countries question Indonesia's support for the U.S campaign against terrorism.

"Indonesia cannot act as the spokesman for the U.S and UK," Hassan explained.