Megawati's mission

Megawati's mission

Had it not been for the horrible disaster that struck New York
and Washington on September 11 last week, President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's current overseas trip, particularly to the United
States, would not have caused that much controversy. As was
announced with the concurrence of the White House, the government
of Indonesia decided to go ahead with the previously agreed plan
for the President to visit Washington officially, then attend the
United Nations General Assembly in New York, and on the way home
have a stopover in Tokyo.

Certain parties have voiced their skepticism, and even
concern, over the President's trip and especially about the
President's visit to Washington so soon after the Sept. 11
disaster. A postponement of the scheduled trip was suggested. The
main concern was that the U.S. might launch a retaliatory attack
on Afghanistan, which is suspected of harboring Osama bin Laden.

Several high-ranking U.S. officials, from President George W.
Bush downwards, have branded this elusive Saudi millionaire, with
his al-Qaeda organization, as being the mastermind behind the
barbarous attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York and
the Pentagon in Washington.

If such a military operation took place while President
Megawati were in the U.S., how would she respond to probing
questions posed by the U.S. media, which is keen to find out
about the position of her government on the matter? One should
bear in mind that she represents a country of more than 200
million people, the majority of whom are Muslim.

The assumption that underlies such a concern is, in our view,
incorrect. As Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts) so
aptly stated in a panel discussion hosted by CNN, the U.S. is not
planning to take action against either the Islamic community of
the world or against any Islamic state. "Islam is a peaceful
religion," the Senator stated. He pointed out that the U.S. is
after the prime suspect who goes under the name of Osama bin
Laden and is believed to be harbored by the Taliban, who rule
most of Afghanistan.

We are confident that the President could handle such delicate
press encounters with her usual aplomb. Our main concern is
whether she and her entourage have a clear understanding of the
goals that they should achieve on their current mission.

It is important that in her meeting with President Bush the
President succeeds in focusing her American counterpart's
attention on the challenges that face Indonesia in its efforts to
rehabilitate its economy as rapidly as possible in order that
democracy may succeed and stability may prevail in this strategic
part of the world.

That basic understanding on the part of the President of the
U.S. -- still the most formidable economic power of the world,
albeit slightly dented by the Sept. 11 attacks -- would enable
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro Jakti,
who is accompanying President Megawati, to persuade the important
U.S. agencies and relevant legislators on the Hill to do what is
necessary to help Indonesia escape its current economic woes.

Such an understanding would also help him to convince
multilateral organizations, such as the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund, to be more forthcoming in assisting
Indonesia's economic rehabilitation efforts.

Coordinating Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is in
charge of Indonesia's domestic security and is also a member of
the President's entourage, could dovetail with the points that
are raised by persuading his counterparts in the U.S. government
to enhance Indonesia's capability to combat terrorism. The basic
assumption remains, of course, that only enhanced prosperity on
the basis of social justice could reduce the risk of this vast
and populous country becoming a breeding ground for terrorism.

We also suggest that during her visit to the UN headquarters
in New York, President Megawati consult with other leaders such
as Egypt's President Husni Mubarrak, who is also keen on doing
something to combat the spread of terrorism.

Indonesia should convincingly demonstrate to the world that it
views terrorism as a deadly menace that could be even more
dangerous to countries such as ours, which has reached a delicate
stage in its recovery from a prolonged sociopolitical crisis,
while, at the same time, engaging in rehabilitating its economy.