Mega urged to get tough against U.S. air strikes

Mega urged to get tough against U.S. air strikes

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A former ambassador here on Tuesday urged President Megawati
Soekarnoputri to adopt a tougher and more explicit stance against
the United States-led air strikes against the Taliban and the al-
Qaeda terrorist network.

Former Indonesian Ambassador to Washington Hasnan Habib urged
the President to explicitly call for an end to the attacks in
Afghanistan.

The president "should formalize her criticism," Hasnan said.

"I think the U.S. has destroyed all the military targets. If
the attack continues civilians could become victims," Hasnan told
The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

In a thinly veiled rebuke of the U.S., Megawati on Sunday
asserted that while terrorism cannot be tolerated and those
involved must be punished, attacks on another country's territory
ware also not acceptable, even in pursuit of terrorists.

The Indonesian government in its initial statement stopped
short of denouncing the air strikes, stressing instead that they
were concerned about the events taking place.

The government's fence-straddling stance has also received
criticism from many vocal Muslim groups.

On Tuesday most government officials here remained silent as
to the substance of Megawati's statement made during an Ascension
Day ceremony on Sunday.

The Foreign Ministry's acting Director General for Political
Affairs, Rezlan Ishar Jenie, when asked by the Post said further
elaboration would be forthcoming from the President.

"Most of her speech was intended to highlight the government's
stance on terrorism," Rezlan replied adding that "the statement
was simply adjusted for the occasion of the religious forum."

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda who is in Shanghai to attend
a ministerial meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) summit, when contacted, declined to comment.

Even though Megawati's remarks on Sunday did not represent the
official government position, in Hasnan's opinion it was a
reflection of her disapproval of the attacks.

He also thinks there could be disappointment from Washington
which was hoping for Indonesia's political support after Megawati
met with the U.S. president one week after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks in New York and Washington.

Hasnan also believes that as a country guided by a "free and
active" foreign policy, Indonesia must not follow the policy of
superpower states, and must consider the views of Muslims
throughout the world.

"Indonesia cannot be silent in witnessing attacks which cause
misery to civilians," Hasnan added.

He further brushed off possible repercussions on U.S. aid to
Indonesia, claiming that Washington is in dire need of resources
to finance its war effort and may not be able to fulfill its aid
pledges anyway.

"Indonesia shouldn't expect too much from the U.S. and their
promise of assistance," Hasnan said.

Separately, former Defense Minister and foreign affairs expert
Juwono Sudarsono praised Megawati's latest comments.

"Since the beginning, Indonesia has only agreed with limited
scale military operations," Juwono told the Post.

"Megawati's remark was expressed very timely," he said adding
that it implicitly reflected disapproval of a possible ground
invasion.

Washington however has brushed off Megawati's remarks. ABC
Australia on Tuesday reported that the U.S. insists the best
defense against terrorism is "a strong offense."

White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer said that Indonesia needs
to remember and understand that U.S. territory was brutally
attacked, and that the U.S. has every right to take all steps it
deems necessary to defend itself. Fleischer also denied that
global support for the U.S. reprisals was eroding.

Juwono suggested that Megawati may appoint a special envoy to
lobby for an end to the Afghanistan crisis.

"Mr. Ali Alatas, former foreign minister, may be appointed the
president's special envoy. He may discuss with other Muslim
leaders ways to end the crisis. It'll show Indonesia is very
concerned with the situation," Juwono said.

He further suggested that Megawati could hold a special
meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the sidelines of
the APEC summit on Oct. 20-21 in Shanghai.

"They may also respond to the U.S. accusation that Osama bin
Laden organization, al-Qaeda, has been operating in the three
countries," he added.