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Indonesia Questions US Security Initiative
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Wirayuda underlined his country's concern that the PSI could infringe on sovereignty.
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JAKARTA,
March 15, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Indonesia
questioned Wednesday, March 15, Washington's proposal for the country
to participate in a security program that allows US and its allies to
intercept ships and planes transporting suspected weapons of mass
destruction which Jakarta fears could infringe on its sovereignty.
"We
asked for the location of the initiatives, within the context of
multilateral arrangements on weapons of mass destruction, including
with other treaties on nuclear, biological and chemical weapons,"
the Jakarta Post daily quoted as saying Indonesian foreign
minister Hassan Wirayuda, following a meeting Tuesday, March 14, with
his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice who wrapped up her two-day visit
Wednesday, March 15, to the most populous Muslim nation on earth.
US
President George W. Bush in 2003 announced the establishment of the
Proliferation Security Initiatives (PSI).
But
Hassan underlined Indonesia's concern that the PSI could infringe on
sovereignty, especially as two-thirds of Indonesia's territory
constitutes sea areas.
"We
also questioned the connection between the PSI concept and the UN
Convention of the Law of the Seas. Participants of the initiatives can
interdict ships, so we want to know whether interdiction is only
allowed in the ocean or within the Exclusive Economic Zone of a
country," he said.
He
added the issue need further discussion to reach a common
understanding.
The
US reiterated its support for Indonesia's territorial sovereignty, he
noted though.
US
Committed
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An Indonesian Muslim girl joins her parent at a rally against Rice's visit outside the US embassy in Jakarta. (REUTERS)
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Rice,
on her part, said Wednesday the United States was committed to
Southeast Asia and urged Indonesia to play a leadership role in the
region, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"We
look to Indonesia... to play a leadership role in Southeast Asia and
in the dynamic changing East Asia."
Rice
praised the democratic transformation of certain Southeast Asian
nations.
"Your
challenge now is to expand the peace, the opportunity, and the freedom
that we see in much of Southeast Asia to all of Southeast Asia,"
Rice said in a speech to an international relations forum.
Rice
said the greatest challenges emerging today were within states rather
than between them and they required cooperation to be successfully
met.
Rice
Tuesday hailed Indonesia as an inspiration to the world for its
religious tolerance and democratic progress, as she sought to
strengthen ties with the moderate Muslim nation against a backdrop of
China's growing influence in the region.
On
regional issues, Rice commended Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono's initiative to encourage Myanmar to join the international
community and to respect human rights during a visit early this month,
reported The Post.
"Great
democracies like Indonesia and the United States cannot turn a blind
eye to those who still live under oppression," she said.
Religious
Schools
Rice
visited Tuesday one of Jakarta's oldest Islamic schools, where she
announced that the US will be disbursing some US$150 million in
education grants to almost 1,000 Indonesian schools - including
madrassahs (religious schools) - over the next five years.
"I
know Americans have a certain thing in mind, a certain image in mind
when they hear the word madrassah. Well I wish Americans could see
this madrassah, this Islamic school because here you have young boys
and young girls in their traditions but learning the national
curriculum, working together quite joyful," she was quoted by Channel
News Asia as saying.
"And
I'm sure they are going to be young people who are going to be very
capable in the world and they are going to carry with them attitudes
about tolerance of other people."
A
further $8.5 million grant will be allocated to develop an Indonesian
version of the Sesame Street children's television program.
The
US has also offered US$11.5 million to support Indonesia's effort in
fighting the bird flu virus.
A
total of 22 Indonesians have died in the latest outbreak of the deadly
virus.
But
hundreds of protesters grouped in the Forum of Muslims staged a rally
in front of the US Embassy Tuesday, demanding that Rice not
"patronize" Indonesia on democracy and human rights issues,
reported The Post.
"The
Americans and the Westerners have a double standard. These issues have
divided Islamic institutions and Muslims," the forum's
secretary-general, Muhammad Al-Khottot, said.
Rice
praised Indonesia's "moderate policies", hoping that Jakarta
will improve Washington's image in a region where anti-American
sentiment is growing.
"I
understand that the United States has had to do things in the world
that are not that popular in much of the world. We are fighting a very
tough enemy, an enemy that has been felt here in Indonesia with
bombings in Bali and Jakarta," said Rice.
Rice
tried to counter strong criticism among many in Indonesia and
elsewhere over the US invasion of Iraq and its actions in fighting
terrorism.
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