President Regrets the Caricature Depicting Him
Monday, 03 April, 2006 | 18:15 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said he regrets and worries about the caricature depicting him in The Weekend Australian newspaper.

“Actually I didn’t want to comment, but because the Australian Prime Minister has commented, there’s noting wrong in me commenting, too. I feel sad about the publicity that has occurred over this inappropriate caricature,” the President told the press in Merdeka Palace, today (3/4).

The President requested all parties to learn from the controversy over the caricature of Prophet Muhammad cartoon in a Denmark newspaper at the end of last year.

According to President Yudhoyono, the caricature of the Prophet triggered tension and civil conflict throughout the world.

The president said he was is of the opinion that these kinds of caricature are not only inappropriate, but also not educative, destructive, and able to incite the anger of the general public.

“Many world wars are triggered by trivial things,” said the President.

Bagja Hidayat