RI EXPECTED TO HELP BRIDGE WEST-MUSLIM WORLD

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 18 (ANTARA) - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in her two-day visit to Indonesia is expected to lay the foundations of a role that Jakarta can play in nurturing the close good relations between the United States and the Muslim world.

        "The relations between Indonesia and the United States are always well maintained so that Jakarta can play its role to help improve relations between the United States and the Muslim world," Muslim intellectual Azyumardi Azra said in a talk-show with Metro TV here on Wednesday.

        Azra made the remarks in connection with Clinton's first overseas trip as US secretary of state to four Asian countries, namely Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. Her visit to Indonesia is regarded as an effort by Washington to improve its relations with the Muslim world.

        Clinton who arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon said in Tokyo the previous day that the President Barack Obama administration will make a concerted effort to restore the image of the United States in the Islamic world and will seek to enlist the help of Muslims around the world against the extremists.

        Recently, US Vice President Joe Biden had specifically asked Indonesia to make a peace proposal on the Palestinian conflict during Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla's courtesy call on his American counterpart.

        The United States expected to get a peace proposal on the Palestinian conflict from Indonesia often regarded as the most tolerant and acceptable country.

        According to Azra, Indonesia should be able to convince the United States in order it would adopt a fair attitude with regard to the Middle East conflict.

        Indonesia, on the other hand, can also play its role to persuade Hamas to adopt a moderate step because Indonesia has a good relation with both sides, he said.

        Abdilla Toha of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I, which deals with foreign affairs, said it must be understood that Hamas had no ideology to totally 'eliminate' Israel but to fight for the departure of Israel from certain territories it was occupying.

        He said that if the United States was willing to change its approach with regard to the Middle East conflict, now was the best time to initiate it and cooperate with Indonesia.

        "Now is the time for the United States to improve its image in the Muslim world after it was tarnished over the past eight years," Toha told Metro TV. His idea was supported by Azra who said that it is time for Clinton in her current visit to lay the basic foundations of a role that Indonesian can play to help US foster its relations with the Muslim world.

        The US secretary of state during a joint press conference with her Indonesian counterpart Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda in Jakarta on Wednesday said that the United States was willing to reach out the entire world to develop a common future.

        In this context, Indonesia as a predominantly Muslim country can play a leading role in bridging the West and Muslim world. According to Clinton, the United States has provided a proposal to the Indonesian government to consider where both sides can engage in negotiations on broader issues.

        Clinton said the United States wanted to build a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia which was a critical step for the United States' commitment to listening as well as talking to those around the world and to supporting a country (Indonesia) which had clearly demonstrated that Islam, democracy and modernity not only could co-exist but also were tied together.

        In the meantime, Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of NU, the Indonesian largest Muslim organization, said that the visit of the US secretary of state was important in the context of Islam. "The visit is very useful if Clinton is willing to look at Islam from the objective point of view," he said.

        He said that Indonesia with major Muslim population had been successful in nurturing interfaith harmony which could serve as a model for countries with multi-religious adherents. "But this would depend on the US attitude and Muslim countries. Islam should not be linked with extremism because extremism also existed with other religions," Muzadi said.

        Din Syamsuddin, chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, meanwhile hailed Clinton's visit saying the US secretary of state's tour of Indonesia was the US recognition of and appreciation to the country as its strategic partner.

        Din said the world viewed Indonesia as a country with majority moderate Muslim population and the US which was currently facing a financial crisis wished to increase its bilateral relations.

        "I have proposed to the US embassy that Secretary of State Hillary could meet with Islamic figures like when former president George W Bush came to the Indonesia," he said.

        Although no meeting would be held between Hillary and Islamic figures the US embassy in Jakarta would invite some of the Islamic leaders to come to a dinner party for her.

        Apart from rejections from certain organizations such as the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), many Muslim scholars welcome Clinton's visit.

        "Clinton's visit should be taken as a good momentum to increase relations between the West, the United States in particular, and the Muslim world," Prof. Dr Yusni Saby, rector of the Aceh Ar-Raniry State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN), said.***5*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/A/S012) (T.A014/A/A014/A/S012) 18-02-2009 22:57:23

PRESIDENT ASKED NOT TO RESPOND TO US CONGRESS OVER OPM ISSUE

By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, Aug. 10 (ANTARA) - Legislators and activists have called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not to respond to a U.S. Congress letter asking him to release two sympathizers of the outlawed Free Papua Organization (OPM), Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage.

         "The president must firmly reject the request," Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid said here on Sunday.

         The MPR chairman made the statement in response to a report that 40 US Congressmen had written to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of the two sympathizers of the outlawed separatist OPM.

         Karma and Pakage were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years imprisonment respectively in May 2005 for hoisting a separatist "Bintang Kejora" (Morning Star) flag in Abepura, Papua, on December 1, 2004.

         "This is a form of intervention into the nation's sovereignty," Nurwahid said expressing his regret.

         Abdillah Toha, chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Body (BKSAP) of the House of Representatives (DPR), concurred with Nuwahid, saying there was no need for the president to respond to the US congressmen's request.

         "The US Congress is free to write letters to anyone for the sake of its constituents. So, if the president responds to it, he should only explain Indonesia's present legal system," he said.

          Former chairman of the Executive Board of Islamic Students Organization (HMI), Anas Urbaningrum said Papua is a province within Indonesia's territory and sovereignty. Thus, it is a matter of Indonesia's domestic affairs.

          "That is why it is not proper for the parliaments of other countries to meddle into others' internal affairs," Urbaningrum who is now an executive chairman of the Democrat Party said.

          He said that a member of parliament of a big country like the United States should understand the principles of mutual respect towards the domestic affairs of other countries.

          "Yet, what happens with the US Congress. They show arrogance and attitude as if they could serve as police for other countries," he said.

         Therefore, he said that the US Congress letter need not be replied. "If we should reply it, we should only explain the principles of good relations and mutual respect," Urbaningrum said.

         Hajriyanto Yasseir Thohari of the Commission I of the DPR which deals with foreign affairs, said the letter indicated that the US Congress was ignorant about the unitary state condition of Indonesia.

         "With the letter it is clear that they are ignorant about Indonesia's democracy and law. Indonesia is no less democratic than the United States, and it is neither inferior to the United States in terms of law enforcement, because Indonesia upholds legal supremacy," Thohari said.

          Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR Yusron Ihza Mahendra said if the United States alleged that injustice had taken place in Papua, they were actually triggered by the United States itself.

          "Local people have been focusing a spot light on the presence of Freeport in Timika and other foreign investors, including the British Petroleum in Bintuni, as a source of injustice," he said.    
     Yusron said that as a result of injustice with regard to abundant natural resources they could not enjoy, certain local people who did not understand the problem were than trapped in establishing a movement against the government of Indonesia.

         Andreas H Pareira, another member of the House's Commission I  said that the maneuver being played by the US Congressmen was a litmus test for President Yudhoyono.

         "It will indicate whether or not Yudhoyono would show his sovereign authority or merely act as a puppet serving the interest of another country," Pareira said.

         Meanwhile, thousands of activists of the Indonesian Islamic Organization Hizbut Tahir Indonesia (HTI) staged a rally outside the  U.S. Consulate General in East Java on Sunday protesting the US Congress.

         This was the second rally held by the HTI in two days. On Saturday, tens of them staged a rally in front of the US embassy in Jakarta warning Washington not to meddle in Indonesia's domestic affairs.

        The demonstrators unfurled banners reading "HTI Rejects US Intervention in Papua" and "Prevent the Nation's Disintegration".

        "The US said that freedom of thought and expression should be respected while in fact the two OPM members had committed a rebellious act and hoisted the morning star flag," Rally coordinator Fikri A Zudian said.

         Therefore, the HTI would call on the President to turn down the US Congressmen's request, and see that the two OPM sympathizers stay in jail.

        "The government must reject any kind of intervention. Don't pay attention to the US Congress' letter," Sodik Ramadhan, another  rally coordinator, said.

         Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda said on Saturday he will soon answer the US Congress' letter.

        "We will answer the letter as soon as possible. In essence, we will ask the US government to respect the legal decisions made in our country," he said.

         Yet, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said that until Sunday morning he had not received the US Congress letter.

         "Up to know, we still have not yet received the letter," the minister said.

         In the meantime, the United States government issued a statement on Sunday through its embassy in Jakarta that it supported Indonesia's full sovereignty and integrity and did not support any separatist movements in Indonesia, including in Papua.

          It supported the Indonesian government in applying Law No. 21 / 2002 on Regional Autonomy in Papua and West Papua. (T.A014/A/HNG/B003)  10-08-2008 22:32:07