Megawati seeks talks with Bush to explain RI stance

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri is seeking talks with U.S. President George W. Bush to explain the country's position on the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday that a meeting between Megawati and Bush was still being finalized.

"It will be made public within the next one or two days," Hassan said after a meeting with his U.S. counterpart Colin Powell in Shanghai, China, Antara reported.

Megawati and Bush are in Shanghai to attend an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

According to AFP, however, Megawati was absent from Bush's meeting schedule. Bush was to meet with leaders of Malaysia, Japan, Brunei, Peru, Singapore and Russia.

According to Hassan, during the meeting Powell expressed appreciation of Indonesia's efforts to protect U.S. interests in the country, including the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and U.S. businesses.

For his part, Hassan said he told Powell that Indonesia's position on the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan had not changed from the position stated on Oct. 8, one day after the U.S. started pounding Afghanistan with guided missiles.

"We are still encouraging a collective response under the United Nations because the rule of the game is clear -- the target, the process of law -- rather than criteria or regulations unilaterally declared," Hassan said.

He added that he had expressed concern about civilian casualties in the raids. "We made that very clear not only this time but also in a statement on October 8," he said.

Many political analysts and religious leaders here believe Indonesia changed its position on the U.S. attacks after President Megawati tacitly criticized the U.S. for attacking Afghanistan.

Megawati, apparently bowing to local Muslim pressure, said during the commemoration of the Ascension Day of Prophet Mohammad on Sunday that no government had the right to attack another or seek to erase blood with blood.

According to Hassan, Megawati's statement was stronger because it was explained in detail from both the moral and religious perspectives.

"So, the President's statement was merely an elaboration, but its essence is the same as the government's statement issued on Oct. 8," Hassan said.

Megawati is trying to tread a delicate line between supporting the United States, a key ally, and appeasing Muslim groups.

Anti-U.S. sentiment has been growing in Indonesia since U.S.- led strikes on Afghanistan began on October 7 in retribution for the September 11 suicide hijack attacks on New York and Pentagon.

On Friday, 10,000 people marched peacefully through Jakarta, demanding that the U.S. stop bombing Afghanistan.

Hassan said Powell understood the sensitivities faced by Megawati's government in responding to the strikes.

Hassan said Indonesia was lobbying other APEC members not to single out Indonesia in the planned statement condemning last month's deadly attacks on the United States.

A declaration of support for Washington's campaign will be the centerpiece of the weekend summit of the 21-member APEC forum, but officials said on Friday the final text of the communique had not yet been settled.

APEC was an organization that operated by consensus and there were "variations of position" within the group, said Hassan,

A declaration of support for Washington's campaign will be the centerpiece of the weekend APEC summit, but officials said on Friday the final text of the communique had not yet been settled.

"So you cannot single out Indonesia," Hassan said. "You cannot say Indonesia watered (it) down."