Posted on 03/13/2006 6:06:51 AM PST by Valin
Jakarta, 13 March (AKI) - Terrorism and the Palestinian question top the agenda of the US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice's visit to Indonesia. Rice is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Monday evening. In the days preceeding the visit, Rice expressed Washington's appreciation for the firm way in which Jakarta has been fighting the threat of global terrorism. Rice also said that she was ready to discuss any assistance Washington can provide Jakarta in the fight against terrorism.
On the occasion of Rice's visit, Jakarta is also expected to ask, yet again, for access to Riduan Isamuddin, better known as, Hambali. Born in Indonesia, Hambali is considered to be the only non-Arab to have been part of the inner circle of Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Hambali was considered to be the former link between al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah, the Indonesian-based terrorist group which is fighting to establish an Islamic state in Southeast Asia.
Hambali was arrested in Thailand in August 2003 and transported to a secret American prison, presumably in Jordan, soon after his arrest. The Indonesian authorities have said that speaking to Hambali is essential in their investigations into various terrorist attacks that have taken place in Indonesia.
Indonesia, while being a target of terrorism is also a centre of recruitment for terrorists. The authorities have arrested more than 200 terrorists in the past few years.
On the Palestinian question, Rice has expressed the hope that Indonesia - the country with the largest Muslim population in the world - will join other countries which have been calling on Hamas to renounce terrorism and open a dialogue with Israel.
Hamas, the paramilitary group which had a surprise win in the Paletinian elections in January, refuses to recognise Israel.
Soon after he was elected in September 2004, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed the intention of a more important role in the Middle East peace process. So far the offer has been turned down by the Israeli government that has that has made diplomatic ties between the two countries as a precondition for Jakarta's involvement in the peace process. At the moment, Indonesia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and is a supporter of Palestine.
Besides a meeting with Yudhoyono, Rice is most likely to also meet with interior minister, Widodo Adisutjipto and the defence minister, Juwono Sudarsono. Other issues on the agenda include efforts to fight bird flu as well as bilateral ties between the US and Indonesia. Rice's visit to Indonesia is the first since she took over the post from former secretary of state Colin Powell.
Before landing in Jakarta, Rice was present at the inauguration of Michelle Bachelet, Chile's first female president. After her trip to Indonesia, she will travel to Australia, a close ally of the US in the Asia Pacific region.
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