Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Indonesia needs to clarify its stance on Afghanistan

By Geoffrey Gold - posted Wednesday, 31 October 2001


Despite the goodwill generated by President Megawati Soekarnoputri’s timely visits to the USA and Japan to promote investment and aid, global media attention is now focusing on domestic demands for Indonesia to break relations with the USA and to back the Taliban regime in Afghanistan with financial and military assistance.

There is considerable disquiet that senior religious authorities have couched the Afghanistan situation in religious terms and that politicians have argued that the motivations behind the terror attacks on the United States are morally valid.

As a result, threats against American and other foreign residents and tourists and diplomatic, cultural and business interests are being taken seriously by governments and individuals alike, at great cost to Indonesia’s trade and development opportunities.

Advertisement

This is all very confusing to business partners, investors and aid facilitators who assumed that Indonesia’s well established foreign policy and international commitments reflected its national interests and the sentiments of its citizens.

According to public record, four consecutive Indonesian presidents and their administrations have instituted or maintained specific diplomatic policies aligning Indonesia with anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

Decisions of the United Nations Security Council also appear to further bind Indonesia to supporting action against the Taliban, to banning any contact with Usama bin Laden, to criminalize any financial assistance to terrorists, to suppress any recruitment of members for terrorists and to eliminate the supply of weapons to terrorists.

Does Indonesia support the Taliban regime in Afghanistan?

On the contrary, Indonesia recognizes the Taliban’s enemy – the Islamic State of Afghanistan under its president, Prof Burhanuddin Rabbani – as the lawful government of Afghanistan. Just check the embassy [Jl Dr Kusumaatmaja SH, No 15, Menteng, Jakarta. Tel 314-3169].

Is the government recognized by Indonesia active inside Afghanistan?

Advertisement

President Rabbani’s army, known internationally as the "Northern Alliance", is unleashing a major action against the Taliban and may soon capture Kabul. It has agreed to participate in an interim administration through a broad Supreme National Unity Council whose first task will be to call a meeting of the traditional Loya Jirga tribal council.

Who does the United Nations recognize as the government of Afghanistan?

The UN only recognizes Rabbani’s Islamic State of Afghanistan. Only one UN member – Pakistan – recognizes the Taliban.

Who does the Organization of the Islamic Conference recognize?

No one. Afghanistan’s seat at the Conference has been empty since 1996.

Which outside power is currently accused of causing grief to the Afghanistan people?

The Ambassador of the Islamic State of Afghanistan reported to the UN that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, in alliance with the Taliban and Usama Bin Laden, had recruited extremists "from all corners of the world" to bases in Afghanistan. He said the Afghan people had been persecuted by terrorists from "South-East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East". Pakistan has since withdrawn its diplomats from Afghanistan, supported US military action against the Taliban and sacked the head of its Inter-Services Intelligence.

Have accusations against Taliban and Bin Laden been made too hastily? Shouldn’t the UN deal with this matter?

Commenting on the US military action in Afghanistan, UN secretary general Kofi Annan referred to the "inherent right of individual or collective self-defence" in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. "The States concerned have set their current military action in Afghanistan in that context," he said.

This is the result of a series of binding resolutions of the UN Security Council. As a member of the UN, Indonesia has Charter obligations to "accept and carry out" the decisions of the Security Council. Indonesia represented Asia on the Security Council in 1995-1996.

Importantly, the first resolution, 1076 (1996) denounced the "discrimination against girls and women and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan."

Resolution 1189 (1998) called on all states to cooperate to apprehend those who bombed the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and to "bring them swiftly to justice". No 1214 (1998) demanded the Taliban "stop providing sanctuary and training for international terrorists and their organizations."

Following bin Laden’s indictment for the African bombings, No 1267 (1999) demanded the Taliban "turn over Usama bin Laden without further delay." It ruled that all countries must freeze Taliban funds.

Resolution 1333 (2000) ruled all countries must stop the supply of arms to the Taliban and military training of Taliban forces and must freeze funds and assets of Usama bin Laden and the Al-Qaida organization. It demanded that the Taliban halt all illegal drugs activities "the proceeds of which finance Taliban terrorist activities".

Resolution 1368 (2001) called on all countries to "bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors" of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and stressed that "those responsible for aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these acts will be held accountable."

Finally, resolution 1373 (2001) reaffirming that acts of international terrorism "constitute a threat to international peace and security" and "the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence" binds all countries to criminalize the funding of terrorists, to suppress all "recruitment of members of terrorist groups" and to eliminate "the supply of weapons to terrorists".

There is an urgent need for Indonesia to clearly articulate and explain its diplomatic position and international legal obligations.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Geoffrey Gold is Chief Executive Officer of the Gold Group Asia/Pacific Ltd in Jakarta.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Geoffrey Gold
Related Links
Gold Group Asia/Pacific
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy