'We won't let Indonesia fall'

'We won't let Indonesia fall'

TOKYO (AFP): Japan's vice finance minister Eisuke Sakakibara has said Japan will build a united front with Singapore and the United States to save Indonesia from ruin, a daily reported yesterday.

"We will never let Indonesia break down at any cost," Sakakibara, dubbed "Mr. Yen" for his strong influence on foreign exchange markets, said in an interview with the Tokyo Shimbun.

"Japan has kept close contact with the United States and Singapore and paid attention to the situation," Sakakibara said.

"I hope we can work out some new idea in the end."

Sakakibara played a key role in striking a deal with Singapore last November which saw the city-state and Japan offer five billion dollars each to Indonesia as part of their commitment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) package for the country.

Japan plans to provide 50 billion (US$400 million) in additional aid to support crisis-hit Indonesia's economic reform program following 20 billion yen loans Tokyo promised during the East Asian summit in December.