Troubling Iran

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 05/11/2006 12:11 PM  |  Opinion

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad must have ended the opening day of his five-day visit here with some sense of satisfaction.

Meeting separately with the country's leaders -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nurwahid -- Ahmadinejad received unanimous support for his country's pursuit of a ""peaceful"" nuclear program.

Whether the statements were a true reflection of political intent or were couched in diplomatic pleasantries by the hosts, the support shown by Indonesian dignitaries in this internationally controversial issue must certainly have been a welcome respite for the Iranian president.

The former Teheran mayor has been a controversial figure since emerging as president in one of the Middle East's few democratic elections. His statements have agitated the already volatile situation in that region.

He is a charismatic figure. A man not shy to speak his mind or pursue what he sees as righteous intents, as the leader of any great nation should.

But it is his firebrand statements that have also shaped a less than pacifist image of his country's political intent.

That is why we are slightly troubled by the near categorical support shown by Indonesian leaders for Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Every responsible nation has the right to develop nuclear energy as an alternative to carbon-based energy. Clear guidelines for such purposes are contained in the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iran certainly has a case for desiring technological advancement in that respect. But that is really not the issue.

Ahmadinejad's statements have destroyed any notions of pacifism Iran may have toward neighbors in the region.

Grand declarations of wiping Israel off the map breed little confidence in foe or friend alike.

It must be underscored that Jakarta shares many of Teheran's concerns about the Middle East. The Indonesian people continue to see great injustice against the Palestinians. That is why Indonesia continues to refuse diplomatic ties with Israel.

But never have Indonesian leaders, officially or clandestinely, supported the use of violence against Israel. Much less the destruction of a nation, irrespective of their faith.

We can only hope that Indonesian leaders received assurances from Ahmadinejad before offering such support for Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Indonesian should not kowtow to American interests in the Middle East. It should continue to condemn the invasion and occupation of Iraq, reject U.S. military intervention in the region, demand the de-nuclearization of Israel and advocate justice for Palestinians.

But to uncritically support a country that advocates violence and is suspected of deceiving inspectors about uranium enrichment and plutonium production programs is irresponsible.

We also question whether Indonesia's proposal of expanding talks on the Iran nuclear crisis to include Islamic countries, such as Indonesia, is really such a good idea.

We fear that such a proposal would merely set one side against the other and widen the divide between the West and the Islamic world. This is completely unnecessarily and would only create greater antagonism between cultures.

The issue of Iran and the Middle East is not one that has to do with religion.

Despite Indonesia's best intentions it should realize that it has limited reach in what it can hope to accomplish in the Middle East. Being the country with the largest Muslim population is not, by itself, sufficient credentials to play international peacemaker.

If it were, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would probably have made a greater effort to meet with Yudhoyono during the Indonesian President's recent visit to the region.

Indonesia's ""free and active"" foreign policy does not only mean sticking up for the weak. It was concocted by first vice president Muhammad Hatta as a pragmatic policy against the backdrop of Cold War rivalry.

Let us not replace pragmaticism with half-baked ideas that only amount to showboating.

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