DATE=10/30/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S INDONESIA (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The American embassy in Indonesia's capital Jakarta is closed, at least through Tuesday, because of what U-S officials call specific, credible threats against it. VOA Correspondent Nick Simeone reports, Americans are also being warned about traveling to Indonesia.

TEXT: Islamic militants threaten Americans in Indonesian hotels, demanding they leave the country. The U-S consulate in Surabaya is attacked while American and Israeli flags are burned in the streets. All of a sudden, U-S/Indonesian relations have taken a tumble, after years of close ties.

Why? Anger among Indonesians over a perceived U-S tilt toward Israel in the on-going Middle East violence, is one explanation. Resentment of U-S criticism that Jakarta has been slow to adopt a range of reforms, may also explain this outburst of anti-American sentiment.

But Indonesians are not only angry at the message but also the messenger: Some are accusing American Ambassador Robert Gelbard of interfering in the country's internal affairs by delivering Washington's message in a blunt manner that appears to have offended leaders in Jakarta. At the State Department, Spokesman Richard Boucher acknowledges both countries have disagreements, but defends the U-S ambassador and his style of dealing with them.

/// BOUCHER ACT ///

We have certain things that are important to us in Indonesia. Democracy, reform, anti-corruption, these are the issues our ambassador has been raising for us.

/// END ACT ///

Still though, it seems relations between the United States and the world's largest Muslim nation are also being adversely affected by the on-going violence in the Middle East. An advisor to former Indonesian President B-J Habibie says she finds it hard to believe Washington would criticize Indonesia, following the recent deaths of three United Nations workers killed in East Timor, while failing to condemn Israel for the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians in the past month. Americans in Indonesia, meanwhile are being urged to exercise extreme caution. (SIGNED)

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