U.S. envoy presents credentials as ties chill

U.S. envoy presents credentials as ties chill

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Senior U.S. diplomat Ralph Leo "Skip" Boyce presented his
credentials to President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday amid
signs of chilling ties between Indonesia and the United States
due to differences regarding the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan.

The new ambassador, experienced in Southeast Asian affairs,
formally began his tenure in Jakarta barely a week after what
many analysts suggest was a snub by President George W. Bush
toward Megawati while the leaders attended an Asia-Pacific summit
in Shanghai.

Boyce held a brief meeting with Megawati after officially
presenting his credentials at Merdeka Palace. He made no
statement to journalists when leaving.

Megawati failed to meet with Bush when they were in Shanghai
for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit at the
weekend, although a formal request had been made on her behalf
for an opportunity to explain Jakarta's response to U.S. attacks
on terrorist targets in Afghanistan.

The White House had earlier expressed its irritation at
Megawati's veiled criticism of the United States after she, in a
widely publicized statement, said that no country had the right
to attack another and that blood could not be cleansed with
blood.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda met with U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell in Shanghai to reiterate
Jakarta's support for an international campaign against
terrorism, stressing, however, the need for an active role to be
played by the United Nations.

Hassan also appealed for Washington to stop the attacks before
the Muslim Ramadhan fasting month commenced in mid-November,
saying that a continued campaign could have a destabilizing
effect on Indonesia and other predominantly Muslim countries.

The U.S. Embassy was the scene of many anti-American protests
in the week immediately following the start of the U.S. bombing
campaign in Afghanistan on Oct. 7.

In spite of the existing state of relations, Boyce's
appointment has been widely welcomed in Jakarta. His predecessor,
Robert S. Gelbard, was frequently caught in a war of words with
Indonesian officials and politicians, to the point that some
politicians had called for his expulsion.

Prior to his Jakarta assignment, Boyce served as deputy
secretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs. His previous foreign
postings include Thailand and Singapore. Born in Washington on
February 1, 1952, he is married to Kathryn Sligh, with two
children.

The possibility that relations with Washington were cooling
was implied in Hassan's statement after Boyce's meeting at the
palace, when he said, "Hopefully, with Ambassador Boyce, we can
enhance our relationship with the United States."

Compounding problems in the diplomatic landscape is the fact
that Indonesia has yet to appoint an envoy to Washington to
replace Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-jakti, who was summoned home by
Megawati in July to become her chief economics minister.

Hassan said that the government was evaluating the potential
candidates, which must be approved by the House of
Representatives.

"The process is under way. The post will be filled as soon as
possible," he said.

Sources within the ministry said that two names on the
shortlist are Sumadi Brotodiningrat, a senior diplomat and
currently ambassador to Japan, and economist Sri Edi Swasono.
Senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
politician Jacob Tobing is also reported to have set his sights
on the Washington post.

Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced that the government
had recruited former foreign ministers Ali Alatas and Alwi Shihab
and former minister of defense Juwono Sudarsono as part of a new
team to help promote Indonesia's foreign policy.

"We feel that we need special envoys to promote our foreign
policy and strengthen our diplomacy," Susilo said while attending
a seminar.