RI-U.S. ties improving after Bali bombing, say ambassadors
RI-U.S. ties improving after Bali bombing, say ambassadors
Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The bombings in Bali showed Indonesians that there are
terrorists here, and the government's tough response to the
attack has helped improve relations with the United States, said
Indonesia's ambassador to the U.S. on Monday.
Ambassador Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat said the threat of
terrorism had taken center stage in the relationship between the
two countries since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the
U.S.
"Before Bali, our relationship was somewhat sensitive as the
U.S. thought we were not serious (abut dealing against
terrorism)," Soemadi said on the sidelines of a seminar to discus
Indonesian-U.S. ties post-Sept. 11.
On the other hand, he added, Indonesia was skeptical about the
presence of local terrorists and was slow to take any action
because of the absence of an antiterror law.
This, however, changed after the Bali bombings claimed more
than 190 lives, making it the deadliest terror strike since Sept.
11.
Soemadi said the blast confirmed U.S. suspicions of terrorists
in Indonesia, but also led Washington to change its view of
Jakarta's commitment to combating terrorism.
"After Bali, after the (antiterror) government regulation,
after the arrests (of the suspected bombers), the interrogations,
they are now starting to think that Indonesia is somewhat serious
in handling terrorism," he said, calling the efforts to fight
terrorism here a boost to diplomatic ties.
Indonesia has arrested a number of suspects in connection with
the Bali bombings and other terror strikes, including the alleged
leader of the Jamaah Islamiyah extremist group, Abu Bakar
Ba'asyir.
Less than a month after the Oct. 12 Bali bombing, Jakarta
issued an antiterror regulation that has boosted its leverage in
the fight against terror.
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce praised Indonesia's
progress in hunting down the perpetrators of the Bali bombings,
but added that more could be done in the fight against terror.
"I encourage you and future policy leaders in Indonesia to
redouble your already impressive efforts to combat terror.
"As one of the largest democracies in the world, the most
populous majority Muslim country and a vigorous partner in
combating terrorism and transnational crime, Indonesia can help
to secure a safe and prosperous future for its people," he said
during the seminar.
Political analyst Soedjati Djiwandono said the two countries
needed to build a common understanding of what terrorism meant
and how to deal with it.
"A common enemy can help unify the nation and build
international cooperation against terrorism, regardless of
identities or religious affiliation," said Soedjati of the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies.
With much of U.S. foreign policy resting on its war against
terror, signs of improved political ties between Washington and
Jakarta may spell improvements in other areas of cooperation as
well. But Soemadi said there were still no signs of this
happening.
The Sept. 11 terror strike, he said, had little impact on
economic ties and the level of U.S. foreign aid to Indonesia
remained largely unchanged.
What was changed was the image of Indonesia after Sept. 11.
"President Bush's repeated statements that there is no link
between the religion of Islam and terrorism have not fully erased
(the U.S.) public's simplistic perceptions," Soemadi said.
In this context, Soemadi said, Indonesia was less often
referred to as the world's third largest democracy and more often
as the world's largest Muslim country.
Progress in the Bali bombing investigation has helped fight
this negative image, he said and quoted an undated article from
The Washington Post referring to Indonesia as a "progressive
force for achieving a more tolerant Islam".
So far, the restriction of military cooperation between the
U.S. and Indonesia remains the most apparent diplomatic snag
symbolizing the bumpy relationship between the two countries,
Soemadi said.
He said Indonesia's progress in the war against terror had not
moved the U.S. to restore military ties.
"The benchmark (for restoring ties with the military) is not
terrorism, but accountability for human rights abuses, especially
after the vote (in East Timor)," Soemadi said, referring to the
military's alleged role in the bloodshed during the independence
ballot in East Timor that led to the U.S. freezing its military
ties with Indonesia.
Boyce said the full restoration of military ties depended on
Indonesia demonstrating progress in holding accountable those
responsible for past gross human rights abuses, "something that
has not yet happened".