Indonesia lends support to Arroyo

Indonesia lends support to Arroyo

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

The Indonesian government threw its weight behind Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the aftermath of what
Jakarta called a coup attempt and said it denounced any attempt
to topple her government.

A statement issued by the Indonesian foreign ministry said
President Megawati Soekarnoputri had called Arroyo to express
Indonesia's support for her government on Sunday evening, as soon
as she arrived in Jakarta from Bali.

"The Indonesian government undoubtedly lends its full support
to the government of President Arroyo," the ministry said.

"President Megawati believes that the government of President
Arroyo with the Philippine Armed Forces fully behind it will be
able to restore order following the coup attempt without
unnecessary victims."

Indonesia is the biggest country within the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Philippines is part of the
regional grouping.

Megawati and Arroyo are the first female presidents of their
respective countries.

Earlier in the day, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman
Marty Natalegawa said the coup attempt was a threat to democracy
in the region.

"As a fellow democratic nation, we unreservedly reject any
attempts to overthrow a democratically elected government, in
this case the government of the Philippines," Marty told The
Jakarta Post.

He said any attempt to oust a legitimate government was
becoming rarer in Southeast Asia, which was moving towards
greater democracy.

"We hope this problem can be resolved wisely," he said.

About 200 renegade soldiers took over the Glorietta commercial
complex in Makati City early Sunday after Arroyo accused some
military officers of trying to overthrow her government. The
mutineers set up explosives in the area and placed snipers on
rooftops.

Arroyo loyalist soldiers later surrounded the complex to
contain the mutiny.

The soldiers later agreed to return to their barracks, denying
it was a coup attempt.