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.