Washington ethnic profiling policy discriminatory: Hassan
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post Jakarta
Jakarta considers Washington's policy, which obliges Indonesian males age 16 and over currently staying in the U.S. to register themselves with immigration authorities as discriminatory and unfriendly.
"The new policy is discriminatory, arbitrary, and unacceptable for Indonesia ... it sends the wrong signal to the war against terrorism as we all know that Indonesia, and the U.S., have both been victim to acts of terrorism," Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday.
He added that only North Korea, of the 22 countries whose citizens had to register with U.S. immigration offices, was a non-Muslim country, indicating that the policy discriminated against Muslims.
"Washington's decision will be damaging, especially in the light of the global situation on the Iraq and Palestinian issues," Hassan remarked.
Washington included Indonesia, on Friday, on the list of countries whose male citizens over 16 years old and living in the U.S. would have to report to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and notify the office about their presence periodically.
The regulation, however, does not apply to Indonesian women, males under 16 years old and green card holders, or those with permanent residence status or a diplomatic passport.
Most of those required to register are currently in the U.S. as students or business travelers, or are visiting relatives.
Registration will be from Feb. 24 through March 28, nationwide.
"Those who do not have the necessary documentation should consider going home. The government also suggests that those wishing to travel to the U.S. reconsider their plans for the time being," Hassan said.
The minister also revealed that President Megawati Soekarnoputri had conveyed Indonesia's concern about the registration requirements to visiting U.S. envoy to Asia James A. Kelly on Friday.
"The Indonesian government will closely monitor the implementation of the decision, especially to prevent possible mistreatment of our citizens during the registration period," she added.
Jakarta also warned on Friday that the new U.S. policy affecting Indonesian citizens and a possible attack on Iraq in the coming weeks would likely jeopardize bilateral relations between the two countries.
Washington has been accused of targeting Islam in its fight against terrorism, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against New York and the Pentagon in 2001.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, was rocked by anti-Western protests when the U.S.-led coalition struck Afghanistan, accused of harboring Sept. 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The public protested the Indonesian government's support of Washington's attack on Afghanistan, which is a predominantly Muslim country.
Iraq, another Muslim country, is likely to be the next target as Washington has insisted that Baghdad has weapons of mass destruction and must be disarmed.
In the meeting, Megawati underlined that an attack would have a huge impact on the country's domestic politics and another wave of anti-Western sentiment would likely emerge as a result.
"All of those factors, should they not be handled properly, could possibly damage relations with the U.S.," Hassan quoted Megawati as saying.
The minister emphasized that the President also highlighted the presence of 33,000 Indonesian citizens in Middle Eastern countries as another matter of concern to Jakarta should war start.
With respect to Megawati's complaints, Kelly said briefly, "A number of points made by the President will be taken back to Washington."