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.