U.S. Embassy to remain closed pending further assessment

U.S. Embassy to remain closed pending further assessment

JAKARTA (JP): There remains no confirmation on when public
services at the United States Embassy here will resume as sources
said an assessment on when to open the embassy will be made on
Monday.

"The embassy will make an evaluation on Monday (on whether it
will reopen the office the following day)," a source told The
Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Citing security reasons, the embassy closed its public
services on Nov. 25.

The closure came amid growing acrimony toward U.S. Ambassador
Robert Gelbard by certain Cabinet officials and legislators.

The House of Representatives Commission I for defense,
security and foreign affairs has also demanded that President
Abdurrahman Wahid call on U.S. President Bill Clinton to recall
the ambassador.

Embassy officials on Thursday confirmed that Gelbard had left
for the United States on Wednesday. However they stressed that it
was a personal trip and had nothing to do with the recent
developments here.

"The trip was planned a long time ago and it was personal,"
Karl Fritz, the embassy's press attache told the Post on
Thursday.

In Washington, Reuters quoted U.S. State Department spokesman
Richard Boucher as saying that Gelbard returned to attend a
family wedding.

However he also confirmed that Gelbard would be in Washington
for consultations, probably with Under Secretary of State Thomas
Pickering late next week.

Separately, several observers again expressed their perplexity
over the unnecessary furor that has erupted and called on all
parties to tone down their rhetoric, particularly Minister of
Defense Mahfud M.D. and Gelbard.

Sociologist Mely G. Tan said the incident would not have
arisen if both parties did not over react.

"Indonesia and U.S. ties are too valuable to be broken," Mely
told Post.

Noted historian Ong Hok Ham further said the dispute was a
result of a foolish incident and that it was "baseless and
pointless."

"It is recorded in history that the relationship between
Indonesia and U.S. have had its ups and downs...but never over of
such a silly issue," he said.

"I think the minister of defense should shut his mouth and not
make any comments that will create unnecessary disputes.

"He (Mahfud) is new, he has a lot to learn and he should not
meddle with foreign politics...a field that he obviously has not
mastered yet. Let's cool things down a bit," Ong remarked.
(edt/asa)