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.