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Indonesia: No Request from U.S. to Use Military Facilities
JAKARTA, Oct 1 (IslamOnline and News Agencies) - While observers in Jakarta say U.S.-Indonesian ties are increasing, Indonesia's Foreign Minister said Monday there has been no official request from the U.S. to use the country's military facilities in the war against terrorism.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, however, said U.S. warships and aircraft might pass through Indonesian territory at certain specified points only.
The minister, who, with President Megawati Sukarnoputri, was in the U.S. for a nine-day official visit, added that U.S. President George W. Bush explained that his country was expecting the support of many countries in rooting out global terrorism.
Indonesia has given its support to the U.S. in their war against terrorism but has said it will not accept any attacks on Muslim countries.
Furthermore, Indonesian Military chief (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. asserted on Monday that so far there were neither talks nor a deal made between the TNI and foreign military leaders over the planned U.S. attack on Afghanistan, reports said.
Widodo said previous meetings with Australia's military chief of staff, Adm. Chris Berry, only focused on bilateral ties between the country's military forces and did not touch the issue of the possible use of Indonesia's air or sea territory for aU.S. strike, Metro TV reported.
Australia has reportedly sent crack troops to assist the U.S. and Britain in capturing Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan.
The Australian ministry of defense confirmed Sunday its troops had joined U.S. and British forces.
The U.S. and its allies are bracing for a major blitz on several areas in Afghanistan, believed to be the base of bin Laden, the chief suspect in the terrorist attacks on the United States.
Meanwhile, Amien Rais, the Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), threw his weight behind the Indonesian Ulama's Council's (MUI) stand deploring the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and calling for a
jihad (struggle) if the U.S. attacks Afghanistan in its campaign against terrorism.
"In principle, we agree with the MUI's advice," Amien Rais said after receiving a number of MUI executive board members at his office Monday.
In its advice note, the MUI, along with 32 Muslim organizations on September 25th issued a statement deploring the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC.
It also called on the Indonesian government not to be easily influenced by U.S. foreign policy that harms the Muslim world.
Megawati says don't chase foreigners
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on Indonesians Sunday not to scare off foreign guests if they do not want their Indonesian brothers abroad to get receive similar treatment.
The head of state made the call aboard the presidential 330-airbus plane carrying her and her entourage to Jakarta after her state visit to the United States and Japan that began on September 17th.
"I instruct the authority to take stern measures on those commit destructive acts and violate the prevailing rules," she said.
She also called on foreigners living in the country, especially Westerners, to remain calm.
"I call on the Indonesian people everywhere not to threaten foreigners. They are our guests," she told reporters on board the Garuda Indonesia Airbus that flew her from Tokyo.
If the situation were to get out of control, many Indonesians who live abroad might feel the heat, she said.
"I have told Americans, including the State Secretary [Colin Powell], that statements on sweeps [of Americans] were merely discourse," Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda said.
Wirayuda noted that to date not a single American has been driven out of the country by any group.
Several religious groups here have staged protests across the country condemning the U.S. plan to strike Afghanistan.
The groups threatened to hunt down and expel Americans and citizens of countries that supported the U.S.'s planned attack, should the U.S. attack Afghanistan.
Megawati also said that the government would clamp down on groups if they carried out their threats.
Major American oil and mining companies such as PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, Exxon Mobil and PT Freeport Indonesia said on Friday that they had taken various precautions for their American workers, but their operations were continuing.
The president also faced criticism from some quarters for her unequivocal support of Bush in the U.S. campaign against international terrorism.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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