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.