U.S. Embassy 'overreacts'

U.S. Embassy 'overreacts'

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso called upon the U.S. Embassy
on Monday not to overreact following reports that the embassy had
warned its citizens here to take precautions over security
concerns in the country.

He was referring to reports that the embassy had instructed
some of its aid workers to leave Indonesia following information
that extremists may attack U.S. interests and American tourists
in the country.

Sutiyoso urged the embassy to be "more objective in viewing
the social conditions in the country".

"As (representing) a more sophisticated country, the U.S.
Embassy should be able to 'read' the social conditions here," he
remarked, adding that the ambassador always praised the security
conditions in the capital.

Sutiyoso said that conditions here were favorable, referring
to some international events held successfully in the city.

"The police are exerting their best efforts, so I see no
reason for the U.S. Embassy to overreact," he claimed.

He praised the police for their success in the arrest of a
group of people suspected of terrorizing the city with bomb
attacks even though most cases actually remain unsolved.(04)