Washington defends Gelbard

Washington defends Gelbard

JAKARTA (JP): The United States defended on Monday its
ambassador to Indonesia whose criticisms of the world's most
populous Muslim state have prompted some legislators to demand
his expulsion.

In a measure of the impact of rising anti-U.S. sentiment among
some Indonesians, it also said that it was encouraging Americans
to defer travel to Java island and the capital Jakarta.

"Intimidation and threats of violence have been directed at
American citizens in Java, including Jakarta, and the city of
Surakarta (Solo)," the U.S. government said in a public
announcement.

Scores of Muslim men entered several international hotels in
Surakarta on Sunday and demanded that Americans leave. Hotel
staff quoted the men as saying that regular checks would occur in
the future.

The U.S. Embassy has accused senior Indonesian government
officials of trying to damage ties and said the local environment
was rapidly becoming hostile to American investment and tourism.

Differences over the significance of a threat to the embassy
compound, which prompted Ambassador Robert Gelbard to close it to
the public from last Wednesday, have also emerged in recent days.

A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy here said on Tuesday the
embassy would remain closed on Wednesday.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf said on
Tuesday that the police guaranteed the safety of American
tourists during their stay in the country following Sunday's
incident in Surakarta.

"American tourists should not be afraid as we will take stern
action against those who commit such acts," Saleh told reporters
at his office at police headquarters.

He said that three of the four leading figures in the militant
Islamic groups who stormed the hotels had been questioned over
the case and were likely to be declared suspects as they had
(allegedly) committed crimes.

Saleh said that the three men could be charged with public
order offenses and under Article 335 of the Criminal Code on
undesirable acts.

The three men were from the Hizbullah Brigade, the Lasykar
Jundullah, and KOKAM, the Muhammadiyah Youth Action Union, Saleh
said.

He added that the other man, who came from the Surakarta
branch of the Islamic Defenders' Front, had only been questioned
as a witness and had been asked to calm his members down.

On Sunday, dozens of men clad in green military-style uniforms
stormed into a number of hotels demanding that American guests
leave the country as a result of anti-American sentiment
following the arrest of an American citizen on Oct. 21.

The American, Aaron War Maness, was allegedly involved in
espionage in Irian Jaya. However, the Indonesian government later
issued a statement saying that Maness was not linked to
espionage.

The mob warned hotel staff that checks would be held at the
hotels for American guests and, if they were found, the guests
would be ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.

Sunday's incident has received a strong response from the
country's political and business circles.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) condemned the intimidation
of U.S. citizens, saying that it was against the law and was
aimed at tarnishing Indonesia's image in the international world.

"PKB condemn and sincerely regret the anarchic actions
conducted by small groups within society. We think of this as a
systematic effort to smear Indonesia's image in the eyes of the
international community," PKB secretary general Muhaimin Iskandar
stated on Tuesday night.

"We value the country's relationship with the United States as
we ought to respect each other.

"Therefore, in order to normalize the situation, we urge the
security authorities to take firm action against those who try to
break the law and humiliate this country," Muhaimin said.

Arievaldy Khumarga, chairman of Indonesia's Inbound Tour
Operators Club (ITOC), said that such actions would reduce the
number of foreign tourists to Indonesia.

"Foreign tourists' interest in visiting Indonesia will
decrease if these parties insist on continuing their moves.

"And this means that the country will lose some of its
revenues," said Arievaldy, who is also the executive director of
Boca Pirento Tours and Travel Agency. (asa/edt/jaw/imn)