Indonesia Wednesday again expressed concern at the US attacks on Afghanistan, saying any widening of the conflict risked triggering a broader war.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, chief security minister of the world's most populous Muslim nation, said Indonesia supported the US-led war on terrorism but queried the methods being used.
"What is on issue is how to prevent, stop and defeat terrorism," he told reporters.
"Indonesia is very concerned ... that the means to fight terrorism should not be excessive.
"They should not cause unnecessary casualties and radicalise Muslims across the world as well as widening the areas of conflict," the minister said.
"If the area of conflict widens, many countries will be destabilised and torn into a new conflict that we do not wish to happen. For example, the West against non-Western countries or the United States against the rest of the world."
On Sunday President Megawati Sukarnoputri -- under pressure from legislators, mainstream Muslim groups and her vice president Hamzah Haz -- for the first time criticised the US-led attacks on Afghanistan.
"Terrorism deserves punishment," Megawati said, in apparent reference to the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, which the United States has blamed on the Afghanistan-based Osama bin Laden.
However, without mentioning the United States or Afghanistan by name, she added: "No individual, group or government has the right to try to catch terrorist perpetrators by attacking the territory of another country."
Megawati left Wednesday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shanghai, which will be attended by President George W. Bush.
Yudhoyono, speaking at the airport, said Indonesia shared a "similar stance and basic principles" with the United States on terrorism.
He said Megawati had told him that Jakarta "currently has a communication process" with Washington.
The minister gave no details but added that he hoped Megawati's comments "can be comprehensively understood and placed in a proper context".
Demonstrations against the US-led air attacks on Afghanistan have been held in several towns and cities here. Although numbers have been relatively small, mainstream groups have also criticised the attacks.
No protests were reported Wednesday in Jakarta and only minor ones in other cities.
During a meeting with Bush in Washington last month, Megawati strongly condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks and pledged support for the fight against terrorism. For his part Bush promised Indonesia hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and trade privileges.
The day after the attacks on Afghanistan were launched, the government expressed "deep concern" but did not condemn or support them.
Some newspapers have added their voice to the growing criticism of the US attacks. Republika called for demonstrations to continue "because the US deserves the protests to stop exercising arrogance" -- Jakarta, (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
