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)