RI laments U.S. decision to abandon diplomacy

RI laments U.S. decision to abandon diplomacy

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, lamented the
decision by the United States and its allies not to resolve the
Iraq crisis through diplomacy, saying that war was not the
solution.

Pleading for all parties to push for a peaceful solution
within the next 48 hours, Jakarta said that war would destabilize
the entire world.

"We regret the U.S. statement as it will spark acts of
violence in the region," Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday after
an emergency meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"We still believe a peaceful solution must be achieved as war
will only create chaos around the globe," he held.

The meeting was held to anticipate the imminent war following
U.S. President George W. Bush's ultimatum that Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein leave his country within 48 hours.

Susilo said Jakarta had asked the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) to call an emergency meeting and forge a peaceful
end to the crisis.

"We urge all parties to give diplomacy the last chance to
work. The UNSC should immediately take steps to avert war in the
Gulf," Susilo said.

Vice President Hamzah Haz said an attack on Iraq would be
considered an invasion and a violation of that country's
sovereignty.

With war seemingly drawing near, Indonesia closed its embassy
in Baghdad as of Monday and evacuated all of its nationals from
the country. The country also has contingency plans in place to
evacuate another 50,000 Indonesians from eight countries near
Iraq.

The Indonesian government also offered assurances that its oil
supply was sufficient to last until May should war break out. It
said it would secure additional oil from Kuwait and increase
domestic production.

Fully aware that war may be unavoidable, Indonesia has also
alerted its security forces to anticipate a possible backlash
against Western interests here.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said 250,000 of his
officers were on alert.

"We are increasing the protection of U.S., Britain and
Australian interests, but so far we have yet to receive any major
threats against them," the officer said after the emergency
meeting.

He also said the Indonesian Military (TNI) was prepared to
deploy soldiers to back up the police.

The government also asked community and religious leaders to
cooperate in efforts to prevent a backlash in the country.

Later in the day, Megawati called on the nation to maintain
peace and order, and refrain from harming foreign interests
should war erupt.

"We are against violence. People may protest the war but they
should not resort to violence. We demand peace and rallies
should not destabilize the country," Megawati said during a
gathering of members of her Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Solahuddin Wahid, deputy chairman of the nation's largest
Muslim group, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said the possible war could
pose a threat to peace at home.

However, he pledged that NU supporters would not resort to
violence to protest a U.S. invasion of Iraq.

"We have warned our followers that this is not a religious
war. It is simply a conflict involving U.S. interests in Iraq,"
he said.

He said that NU members would be allowed to hold peace rallies
to protest the war.

"I ask everyone to remain calm about the possibility of war,"
he said.

His words were in stark contrast to statements coming from
radical Muslim groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front, which
publicly said it would threaten U.S. interests here in the event
of war in Iraq.