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CNN-Asia, October 17, 2001 Posted: 5:34 AM EDT (0934 GMT)
WAR AGAINST TERROR
Indonesia warned over terrorism stance
By Atika Shubert CNN Jakarta
JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- On the eve of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in Shanghai, Australian Prime Minister John Howard warned Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri not to soften her position on the war on terrorism.
"I don't think it is in the interests of her country or in the interests of stability in our part of the world for Indonesia to weaken its support for the American position," The Age daily Australian newspaper quoted Howard as saying.
"It's very important that the country which in a way is the largest Islamic country in the world does not allow this issue to be something of Islam against the rest. It is not."
Howard said he intended to discuss Indonesia's position with Megawati during the APEC summit.
Indonesian government officials said, however, that no such meeting had been scheduled.
Widening war
There was no immediate response from the Indonesian government to Howard's comments. Megawati left for Shanghai on Monday and was unavailable for comment.
However, Indonesia's Chief Security Minister Bambang Yudhoyono emphasized, that Indonesia was increasingly concerned by the US strikes in Afghanistan.
"Indonesia is very concerned and worried," Associated Press quoted Yudhoyono as saying Wednesday.
"If this conflict widens, then many countries will be destabilized. This will create a new unwanted conflict, for example the West against nonwestern countries, the United States versus the rest of the world."
Megawati under pressure
Under increasing pressure from religious and political leaders, Megawati appeared to take a tougher stand against the U.S. on Sunday.
Speaking on the eve of a Muslim holy day, she refrained from specifically mentioning the United States but said that no one had the right to "cleanse blood with blood".
"It is unacceptable that someone, a group or even a government -- with the reason of searching for terrorists -- attack a people or another country for whatever reason." Megawati said.
"I cannot imagine what would happen to the world, what could be more terrible when the group or country uses their own fury to justify the act."
Megawati's statement signaled a significant shift from her government's previous position, which asked only that the U.S. "limit" strikes in Afghanistan.
Some analysts feel, however, that her statement was more a tactical move to placate religious interests than a substantial shift in government policy.
"She said something that might have been seen as a change in policy. That was not true. It was a tactical appeasement," said Rizal Mallarangeng, political analyst from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.
"The basic policy that Megawati realizes is that she must develop the country. And that can only be done if you are a friend of the West."
Crackdown on radical groups
Indonesia's security forces are taking a tougher line against radical Islamic groups that have held almost daily protests in front of the U.S. Embassy and Indonesian government buildings.
On Monday, police clashed with about 300 anti-US demonstrators from the Defenders of Islam group. Several demonstration organizers were arrested.
Other militant groups have come to the defense of the arrested demonstrators.
Indonesia's largest militant group, Laskar Jihad, or Jihad Army, threatened on Tuesday that it would continue its anti-US campaign, even if demonstrations were disbanded.
"We will continue with this anti-American movement, regardless of the brutal attempts by police to shut us down," Jaffar Umar Thalib, the leader of Laskar Jihad told reporters.
"This movement will continue until Bush decides to stop sending missiles into Afghanistan."
http://asia.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/10/17/gen.indonesia.warnings/index.html
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