Indonesia warns U.S. of backlash from Muslim world

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government reaffirmed on Wednesday its support for combating global terrorism, but warned that the continued U.S. strikes on Afghanistan were endangering world peace.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the prolonged assault would also give rise to Islamic radicalism worldwide.

"We question the way they deal with terrorism. We don't want to see the fight against terrorism claim the lives of innocent civilians and aggravate Islamic radicalism," Susilo told journalists after seeing off President Megawati Soekarnoputri on her trip to Shanghai.

The excessive military campaign in Afghanistan will contribute to political instability in many countries, including Indonesia, he added.

The military strikes have prompted daily anti-U.S. street demonstrations in Indonesia and around the world. Several radical groups in Indonesia have gone as far as sending volunteers for jihad to Afghanistan.

Megawati implicitly denounced the U.S.-led offensive in her latest speech during the commemoration of Ascension Day of Prophet Muhammad on Sunday, saying that an attack on another country for whatever reason was unacceptable.

The President's statement was widely seen as being more progressive than the government's initial stance, which merely expressed concern over the attacks.

The initial position of the government received criticism from many Muslim groups, which then organized anti-American rallies in major cities across the country.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tandjung said yesterday that Megawati should formalize her latest statement into the government's official stance.

Akbar said that Megawati's stronger stand on the U.S.-Afghan issue had received a positive response from Muslim groups.

"She needs public support to make her government effective," Akbar told journalists.

Susilo reiterated the government's stand that although Indonesia backed the fight against terrorism, Jakarta did not condone an open war that took its toll on the lives of innocent people.

International media have reported that the Afghanistan onslaught has claimed more than 300 civilian lives, although the U.S. has pledged that the attacks would be limited and measured.

"President Megawati said that currently she had been communicating with Washington on the matter and it was hoped that the U.S. would understand her stance," Susilo said.

Asked if the government anticipated a change in Washington's position toward the Megawati administration due to her latest statement, he replied: "We are still awaiting their response and of course we are prepared for any response."

The Indonesian government was preparing a proposal that the UN intervene in the U.S.-Afghanistan conflict so that the war would not spin out of control, Susilo said.

"We are weighing the idea of taking Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S., to an international tribunal .... There should not be any perception that Indonesia is not cooperative in the global efforts against terrorism," he added.

The government is also considering sending special envoys to several countries, such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the U.S., to seek a solution to the crisis.

Wednesday was the first day since the U.S. launched military strikes on Afghanistan on Oct. 7 that there were no major anti- U.S. demonstrations in large cities.

Susilo said the government was aware that the recent waves of anti-U.S. demonstrations had been utilized by certain political interest groups to discredit the Megawati administration.

"We have every reason to suspect that," he said. "We are worried that the continuing anti-U.S. sentiment will cause instability at home. Certain interest groups are using the issue for their short-term political gain."