Powell to visit Indonesia during Asia tour this month

Powell to visit Indonesia during Asia tour this month

Agencies, Washington

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will launch a grueling
eight-nation tour of Asia this month, hoping to keep tensions
between India and Pakistan under control and to bolster the
Pacific front of the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

Powell will anchor the trip around his previously announced
participation in the annual Association of Southeast Asian
Nations Regional Forum (ARF) in Brunei Darussalam, Agence France
Presse reported on Friday.

He will also visit India, Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore,
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said. He is scheduled to fly into
Jakarta on Aug. 2 and leave the next day.

Powell's stops on the Southeast Asian itinerary will mark his
first visit to each of the countries as secretary of state. Each
plays a key role in the Pacific front of the war on terrorism.

Powell is due to leave Washington on July 26 and start his
swing across Asia in India and Pakistan on July 27 and 28.

He was then to travel on to Bangkok (July 28), Kuala Lumpur
(July 29), Singapore (July 30). He will take part in the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Bandar
Sri Begawan (July 31-Aug. 1), and then visit Jakarta (Aug. 2) and
Manila (Aug. 3).

"We have important relationships out here that are vital to
our economic, political, diplomatic future, as well as our
security interests," said Boucher.

"He has wanted to make this trip to Southeast Asia for a long
time, but also there are immediate and pressing issues with
regard to the fight against terrorism throughout this region."

The trip will be seen by Southeast Asian allies of the United
States as a valuable exercise in showing the flag and consulting
with top regional leaders.

Powell's itinerary in Southeast Asia includes states that are
seen as close U.S. allies or long-term partners.

Conspicuously missing are Vietnam, communist Laos, military-
ruled Myanmar, and Cambodia, which has a sometimes-testy
relationship with Washington.

The Philippines faces frequent attacks and kidnappings from
the Abu Sayyaf rebel group, believed to have links with Osama bin
Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Malaysia has won praise from the United States on its fight
against terrorism, worrying some human rights activist who fear
the government may be exploiting the anti-terror campaign to
repress domestic opponents.

Indonesia, while promising to support the U.S. campaign, has
disappointed some U.S. officials with its anti-terror effort, and
there have been frequent reports that the al-Qaeda network has
considered the country, with its myriad islands and ethnic
conflicts, an ideal staging ground.

As a group, Southeast Asian nations have pledged to work hard
to fight against terrorism, and recommended a set of preventive
actions.

But their effort has been hampered by the philosophical
division in their grouping which includes democracies like
Thailand and the Philippines, and military dictatorships like
Myanmar.