Indonesia, Malaysia express concern

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, OCT. 9. China has stopped short of openly supporting the American-led attacks on Afghanistan, but said Beijing opposed ``terrorism of any form''.

Separately, Indonesia and Malaysia, two key nations with Muslim- majority populations in South-East Asia, have expressed concern at the American attacks on Afghanistan. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, quoted by the official People's Daily Online, said Beijing hoped that military strikes were aimed at specific targets so as to avoid hurting innocent civilians. According to the spokesman, who was not identified, the Chinese Government opposed terrorism in any form, supported relevant resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council and encouraged action to combat terrorism.

The spokesman also said China hoped that peace would return as soon as possible. In Jakarta, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Hasan Wirayuda, urged the United States and its allies to limit military strikes against Afghanistan, saying that his country was following developments with ``deep concern''.

``The Government of Indonesia insists the operation stay limited...to avoid more casualties,'' the Foreign Minister stated. The reaction in Jakarta appeared to be ``tightrope walking'' on the part of the Megawati Sukarnoputri Government, which does not want to publicly support the U.S.-led military strikes but does not want to oppose them either.

As security was increased at the American and other Western Embassies in Jakarta, it became clear that the Indonesian Government did not want to anger radical Islamists by offering its support for the missile strikes. The Indonesian position may also disappoint the United States, whose President, Mr. George Bush, pointedly welcomed the Indonesian President in Washington recently.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, who has also been wooed by Mr. Bush, said conventional war could not overcome terrorism and would only result in innocent victims and possible escape of the terrorists. While condemning and rejecting the use of terrorism to achieve any objective, Dr. Mahathir said as long as the terrorist ``cause'' remained, there was no guarantee that others would not take recourse to the same means. ``In view of this, the Malaysian Government does not agree to war being waged against countries said to be harbouring terrorists,'' Dr. Mahathir was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency. ``This will bring disaster to the country concerned without even an iota of success in the effort to eliminate terrorism or terrorists,'' the Prime Minister stated. According to Dr. Mahathir, terrorism should not be linked to Muslims alone as on many occasions, people of other religions and nationalities had resorted to terrorism. ``It is most unfair to link terrorism with Islam,'' Dr. Mahathir said, adding that Muslims and ``Islamic'' countries should act rationally to oppose terrorism and restore the image of Islam.

In a related development, Mr. Fadzil Noor, leader of Malaysia's hardline Islamist party, PAS, said the American strikes were a direct assault on Muslims, not just on the Taliban. ``America attacked a small and defenceless country like Afghanistan without showing the world strong reason or proof, they are war criminals,'' Mr. Noor said. ``If the U.S. are really waging a war against terrorism, why don't they attack Israel, who are terrorists against Palestinians?'' he maintained.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Arab establishment rejects Osama theory
Next     : Rights Watch call to U.S.