U.S. presidential election and the spat with RI

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.