Japan turns up pressure on Mega to fight terror
Japan turns up pressure on Mega to fight terror
Korenellus Purba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A top Japanese envoy has reiterated the strong appeal of Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi for President Megawati Soekarnoputri
to thoroughly find and punish the perpetrators of the Bali
carnage, which left at least 183 dead including at least one
Japanese national thus far.
Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yutaka Iimura emphasized that
the government's progress in combating terrorism would become a
crucial factor in restoring Indonesia's tarnished credibility in
the international community.
The ambassador pointed out his country, the biggest money
lender to Indonesia, was ready to assist Indonesia in solving its
difficult problems, but then cautioned that Indonesia itself
needed to get its house in order before a recovery program would
succeed.
"We feel Indonesia should accelerate their efforts in
combating terrorism," Ambassador Iimura said in an interview with
The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
On Monday, Koizumi sent a personal letter to Megawati,
expressing his outrage over the Bali blast. However Koizumi also
assured her that Japan was ready to provide its assistance.
Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi also sent a message to her
Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda.
"I hope that Indonesia will completely resolve this case and
make sure that it will not occur again. Japan is determined to
assist Indonesia as much as possible," the prime minister said in
the letter.
On Friday, based on forensic dental tests police confirmed the
death of Kosuke Suzuki, 34, while his 33-year-old wife Yuka
Suzuki missing, presumed dead. The couple hailed from Yokohama.
Two Japanese tourists are currently being treated in Singapore
for their serious injuries after they were evacuated from the
hospital in Bali.
According to the ambassador, his government has advised its
citizens to "reconsider" their plan to visit Indonesia. Last year
about 360,000 Japanese tourists visited Bali. So far, Tokyo has
not asked Japanese nationals residing in Indonesia to leave the
country.
Meanwhile, the ambassador stated that Japanese loans through
the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) should not be affected
by the Bali tragedy. The CGI meeting, however, has been postponed
from original plan this month to January next year.
"Indonesia is one of the most important partners for our
development cooperation and I think this country continues to be
one of our most important partners, and we are not trying to
change that position," Iimura noted.
Minister of Finance Boediono on Thursday disclosed the
government's plan to ask for more money from Japan for next
year's budget. Indonesia is the largest recipient of Japan's
Official Development Assistance (ODA). For this year alone, it
provided one-third of Indonesia's total external financing needs,
estimated at some US$7 billion.
"The government has to accelerate its economic reform," Iimura
replied when asked which of Indonesia's problems should have the
highest priority before the CGI meeting.
Meanwhile, following the Bali blast, Japan plans to send a
coastguard patrol vessel to India and Singapore for a one month
mission to carry out joint drills against terrorist attacks on
tankers and cargo ships in the region.
"The Indian Ocean and Malacca Strait are very important areas
for Japanese tankers and cargo vessels, and it is essential to
coordinate with the local coastguard of the two countries," AFP
quoted a Japanese official as saying about the mission.