Indonesia gets world support in blast aftermath

Indonesia gets world support in blast aftermath

Agencies, Jakarta

The government received on Wednesday sympathy and support from
world leaders, who expressed confidence that Indonesia would be
able to find the perpetrators of the JW Marriott Hotel bombing as
soon as possible.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said that world
leaders had sent special messages to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri regarding Tuesday's devastating bombing.

"They expressed confidence and promised to support us in
resolving the case and continuing with the fight against
terrorism," Hassan said at the Presidential Palace.

He said Australia and France had officially offered their
assistance in investigating the carnage that killed at least 10
people, according to a police report, and injured at least 149
others.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
were the first to send messages to the President, Hassan said.

A source at the President's office told The Jakarta Post that
Australian Prime Minister John Howard had talked with Megawati
over the phone on Wednesday.

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called the bombing a
"brutal attack" which must be answered with a united front.

"Faced with the continuing threat of terrorism, we must
strengthen our common commitment to combat and conquer all forms
of violence around the world," Berlusconi said, in a message of
condolence to Indonesian authorities.

Chinese President Hu Jintao also sent a message condemning the
blast and pledging Chinese cooperation in fighting terrorism.

"The Chinese government strongly condemns this terrorist act,"
Hu said in his message, according to China's state-run Xinhua
news agency.

"China is ready to engage in common efforts with all countries
in the region, including Indonesia, to crack down on terrorist
forces and maintain peace and stability," he said.

Canberra warned further terrorist attacks could be imminent in
Jakarta, saying that extremist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) was so
entrenched in Indonesia that wiping it out would likely take
years.

Foreign minister Alexander Downer said alleged Bali bomber
Amrozi's trial verdict on Thursday and Indonesia's national day
on Aug. 17 were both possible triggers for attacks.

"We think there is a real risk that there could be further
attacks, including in Central Jakarta," Downer told reporters,
adding that Australians in Indonesia should take the travel
advisory seriously.

In Manila, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged
ASEAN to increase vigilance against terror attacks.

"This (Jakarta bombing) is a clear message that the war
against terrorism in the region must be pursued with more
intensive multilateral cooperation," Arroyo said at the opening
of the ASEAN Finance Ministers meeting in Manila.

"The region must now learn to live with these threats from day
to day. Vigilance must become a way of life, even as we maintain
normalcy in the course of work and business," Arroyo added.

In Bangkok, the Thai government voiced a similar call for
ASEAN countries to work together in fighting terrorism in the
region.

"What has happened must compel all countries to cooperate...
To suppress and fight international terrorism from now on,"
foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai told reporters.

In Islamabad, foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan said that
Pakistan condemned the terrorist attack in Jakarta.

Tokyo dubbed the bombing a despicable act of indiscriminate
terrorism and pledged its full cooperation with the international
community.

"It looked like an act of indiscriminate terrorism. We feel
extremely sorry for those who lost their lives. It is an utterly
despicable act," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told a news
conference.

Canada also "strongly" condemned the attack.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their
families at this time," said foreign minister Bill Graham in a
statement.