National

President SBY Orders Stern Measures Against Those Sweeping Foreigners in Indonesia
Tuesday, 02 November, 2004 | 11:34 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered National Police chief deputy Comm. Gen. Adang Darajatun to take stern measures against those involved in the sweeping of foreign citizens in Indonesia, particularly as regards a raid against Thai citizens in Solo, Central Java.

This order of the president was revealed by Indonesian foreign minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (01/11) after he accompanied the president in receiving nine ASEAN countries’ ambassadors for Indonesia.

“The Thai Ambassador to Indonesia, Atchara Seriputra, delivered the recent information as well as progress in Southern Thailand to the president,” said Wirajuda.

Wirajuda added that Ambassador Seriputra also delivered his appreciation regarding the quick response of the Indonesian government in protecting Thai citizens in Indonesia, including the police’s efforts to secure the Thai Embassy and the Thai Ambassador’s residence.

As reported earlier, many Thai Muslims were killed in a demonstartion held in Patani, Southern Thailand.
This has aroused protests from Muslims in Indonesia.

According to President Yudhoyono, it is quite normal if some people in Indonesia protest regarding this.
However, it is also urgent for the government to provide protection to foreigners in Indonesia.

Related to the reports on the raid against non-Muslim Thais in Solo, Central Java, the president immediately responsed.

“We of course need to verify this matter. However, the president has given his response as he read the news of this raid this morning,” said Wirajuda.

According to the Foreign Minister, the president had ordered the National Police chief deputy to take care of the matter and take stern measures against this raid.

“The National Police chief himself was on his way to Aceh,” said Wirajuda.

Such one-sided actions as the raids are considered as interrupting the security of foreigners in Indonesia.
(Yura Syahrul-Tempo News Room)