U.S. presidential election and the spat with RI

By Gandhi Sukardi

JAKARTA (JP): Like anywhere else, the United States presidential election has been closely watched by many Indonesians, but this time with a difference. Recent violence in the Middle East has split Indonesian society into two camps; pro and anti-American.

Probably the pro-American group is more interested in the outcome of the elections. While the other group has been more vocal, voicing anti-American sentiments in many cities.

With last month's violent break down of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Americans have been blamed for siding with the Israelis. The anti-American sentiments have led to numerous demonstrations, with the burning of the stars and stripes becoming the order of the day.

Members of the House Commission in charge of foreign affairs have singled out the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Robert Gelbard, for being "too arrogant" in his dealings with Indonesian affairs.

They have written to President Abdurrahman Wahid requesting him to declare the Ambassador person-non-grata. The President denied the request.

In Solo, Central Java, the search by uniformed gangs for American tourists staying in hotels there has virtually stopped all Americans from visiting the town.

Fortunately, that type of anti-American behavior has not spread to other cities. People with more common sense disapprove of such extreme activities. Most of the media, although sympathizing with the Palestinian cause, have called for restraint.

They believe that U.S.-Indonesia relations should be preserved at all costs.

Responding to perceived threats on the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, the target of frequent protests, the compound has been officially declared closed for visa and consular services.

This seems to have irritated foreign minister Alwi Shihab, who has requested Ambassador Gelbard to keep it open for business. There are no signs that this will happen soon.

It is anybody's guess what will happen next -- and it this situation that has apparently drawn more interest here than the battle for the seat in the Oval Office.

Some Muslims consider everything associated with the state of Israel and the Israelis as their number one enemy. And they suspect that the United States government is behind every move and every policy carried out by the Jewish state against the people of Palestine.

The President of Indonesia does not see the struggle of the Palestinians against Israel as a religiously motivated movement but one more driven by Palestinian nationalism, given that Christians living in Israel are also joining the uprising.

Abdurrahman's membership in an international organization founded by an Israeli leader has been condemned by many Muslims here but he has refused to leave the group, even suggesting that Indonesia should open formal ties with Israel.

The United Nations' Jakarta office has frequently been mobbed by protesters accusing the Security Council of double standards, claiming it failed to stop Israel's atrocities against the Palestinians, yet it issued a resolution in Indonesia's disfavor following the murder of three UN workers (in West Timor).

There have been voices urging Indonesia to end its membership in the UN, claiming that the world needs Indonesia more than we need the world, given our strategic location and natural resources. Of course, there are many more sane Indonesians who believe that the truth is the other way around.

Indonesia needs the cooperation and assistance, including the investment, of the international community if it is ever to be able to repay its huge debts.

It is simply inconceivable that some leaders have not made it clear to their followers that Indonesia needs the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the U.S. aid body, USAID.

The current situation has been the most dreadful development in Indonesia's international relations involving the United Nations and the United States.

The irony becomes more evident if one considers that the American revolution was among the sources of inspirations for the founding fathers of this republic.

Indonesia's democratic ideals have been inspired by the American experience of freedom of speech, press freedom and human rights, not to mention free enterprise. The French revolution and later the Russian revolution, particularly regarding the notion that workers have the same rights as wealthy citizens, have been other sources of inspiration.

Amid current local developments, the rhetoric of the U.S. presidential candidates, and issues like whether Al Gore will continue the U.S. role as the "sheriff of the world", or whether George W. Bush can really improve social welfare, are falling on deaf ears here.

The fact is that people needing a visa to the U.S. are still facing a closed and guarded compound and parents having children studying in the U.S. are getting more nervous each day the unofficial diplomatic spat lasts.

Meanwhile it has been disclosed that the U.S. ambassador has returned home for consultations and as things are at the moment, it would not be surprising if Gelbard did not return.

More Americans outside Jakarta may also have returned, following the advice of their government to avoid Indonesia.

Under such circumstances, can we then expect that the common American can be interested in Indonesia and its problems?

The irony is that while Americans are nowadays less than welcome here, U.S. dollars remain the most wanted commodity and the most needed currency, to help Indonesia overcome its economic problems.

The writer is a former journalist at the state run Antara news agency.