Indonesia will retaliate if attacked: TNI chief

Indonesia will retaliate if attacked: TNI chief

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on
Monday that they would not stand by and watch while a foreign
nation attacked Indonesia under the pretext of fighting
terrorism.

"Such an action is an act of aggression against another
sovereign country and we will not stand by should they attack,"
Endriartono said after a Cabinet meeting with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

Endriartono was asked to comment on a statement made by
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who said that he would
propose an amendment to the United Nations (UN) charter to allow
a country to launch preemptive strikes against terrorists in
other states.

His statement has spoiled blossoming relations between
Canberra and Southeast Asian countries, which were given a boost
after the Oct. 12 blast in Bali, which killed over 190 people,
mostly Australian holidaymakers.

"There is no way that Australia can come here and launch an
attack even if they say it is against terrorists," the four-star
general said.

Citing the deployment of American troops in the Philippines as
an example, Endriartono underlined that foreign troops could
enter another country only upon the request of the host country.

Following the terrorist attacks in Washington and New York in
Sept. 11, 2001, the Philippines invited the United States to send
troops to the Philippines to help fight the Abu Sayyaf group,
which the Philippine government has declared a terrorist
organization.

All Southeast Asian countries have been united in sending a
strong rejection to Howard's suggestion, calling the Australian
government arrogant and a bully for pursuing the amendment.

The Philippines went further to suggest that they would review
their terrorism pact with Canberra because of the suggestion.

Turning a deaf ear to objections from Southeast Asian nations,
Howard reiterated on Monday his right to launch preemptive
military strikes against terrorists in other countries, saying
that if he knew of an impending terrorist attack against
Australians -- and if the only way to stop it was with military
action on foreign soil -- he would order a strike.

"Any Australian prime minister unwilling to do that would be
failing the most basic test of office," Howard told AP.

His statement also received strong criticism at home as it was
considered an "irresponsible statement to woo voters worried
about terrorism following the Oct. 12 bombings".

Vice President Hamzah Haz also regretted on Monday Howard's
statement.

"Such a statement should not have been made as it causes
anxiety to other countries. Should there be terrorist activities
he (Howard) could have said it directly to the countries
concerned," Hamzah said.

He said that there were international rules of the game, even
in the war against terrorism, and they should not be violated.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Monday
that Jakarta viewed the statement as a conceptual idea and not a
plan of action.

"But for us, the idea is unacceptable because the UN charter
respects sovereignty and equality of all states," Hassan said.

"I can assure you that 115 non-aligned movement member
countries will never support the suggestion," the minister added.

However, he said that there was no need to fuel the heated
debate and called on the country not to overreact to the
statement.

Bilateral ties between Jakarta and Canberra have repeatedly
been put to the test because of intriguing statements or actions
from Howard to satisfy his constituents at home.

Analysts have suggested that Jakarta should have been more
stern in dealing with the Australian government so that similar
statements would not be repeated.