Jakarta, NU Online
In an unprecedented move, a Cabinet minister has thrown his weight behind a campaign by the House of Representatives to question President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over the government's decision to support a UN resolution imposing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
"I could not understand why the government accepted the UN resolution. I personally regret that the dialog on the Iran nuclear issue stopped at the UN Security Council. I fully agree with the House's action plan as it will give the President a chance to explain to the public why such a decision was made," Minister for Cooperatives and Small- and Medium-scale Enterprises Suryadharma Ali said by telephone here Thursday.<>
Asked whether he was defying the President with his statement, Suryadharma, who is also chairman of the United development Party, said: "I do not have the intention of going that far. What I'm saying is that all parties, minus the Democrat Party, support the move, meaning that there is a common perception that the government's decision is difficult to understand."
The minister said the government should not be frightened by the House's move as the legislators just wanted to raise some questions and that the government should respond to them.
Legislator Yuddhi Chrisnandy said that he and fellow legislators took the initiative to propose the move after a Tuesday evening meeting between Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie and representatives from nine House factions ended in deadlock.
Several legislators interrupted the House's plenary session deliberating the disaster management bill on Thursday, asking the House leadership to follow up the plan to question the President.
"The House leadership must consistently process the plan in accordance with the House's internal rulings to maintain the House's credibility," said Tjahjo Kumolo, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction.
Commenting on the lawmakers' move, presidential foreign policy advisor Ali Alatas said the lawmakers did not fully grasp the government's stance.
"I think there is an erroneous understanding on this issue. The resolution has also been agreed upon by China and Russia, Qatar and South Africa. So do not judge as if we have denied something," Alatas said, referring to a number of countries that had traditionally taken a soft stance on Iran.
Alatas, a former foreign minister, said the nuclear standoff should not be seen as a conflict between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds, but instead as one over the issue of nuclear proliferation.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said in a hearing with the defense and foreign affairs commission at the House later in the evening that he could understand the public strong response at home to the government's decision to support the UN resolution.
Hassan said the UN Resolution 1747, the second after a similar one issued in December 2006, gave emphasis to efforts seeking a peaceful solution to the Iran nuclear issue.
"Indonesia hopes all sides, especially Iran and the Big Five plus Germany, which co-sponsored the resolution, will continue seeking peaceful solutions to the issue," he said, while referring to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
He said the nuclear issue was brought to the UNSC meeting because Iran was suspected of developing nuclear technology to produce weapons of mass destruction.
Indonesia will support Iran if the latter develops its nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Middle East is free from nuclear arms to calm tension in the region, he added. (tjp/dar)
In an unprecedented move, a Cabinet minister has thrown his weight behind a campaign by the House of Representatives to question President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over the government's decision to support a UN resolution imposing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
"I could not understand why the government accepted the UN resolution. I personally regret that the dialog on the Iran nuclear issue stopped at the UN Security Council. I fully agree with the House's action plan as it will give the President a chance to explain to the public why such a decision was made," Minister for Cooperatives and Small- and Medium-scale Enterprises Suryadharma Ali said by telephone here Thursday.<>
Asked whether he was defying the President with his statement, Suryadharma, who is also chairman of the United development Party, said: "I do not have the intention of going that far. What I'm saying is that all parties, minus the Democrat Party, support the move, meaning that there is a common perception that the government's decision is difficult to understand."
The minister said the government should not be frightened by the House's move as the legislators just wanted to raise some questions and that the government should respond to them.
Legislator Yuddhi Chrisnandy said that he and fellow legislators took the initiative to propose the move after a Tuesday evening meeting between Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie and representatives from nine House factions ended in deadlock.
Several legislators interrupted the House's plenary session deliberating the disaster management bill on Thursday, asking the House leadership to follow up the plan to question the President.
"The House leadership must consistently process the plan in accordance with the House's internal rulings to maintain the House's credibility," said Tjahjo Kumolo, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction.
Commenting on the lawmakers' move, presidential foreign policy advisor Ali Alatas said the lawmakers did not fully grasp the government's stance.
"I think there is an erroneous understanding on this issue. The resolution has also been agreed upon by China and Russia, Qatar and South Africa. So do not judge as if we have denied something," Alatas said, referring to a number of countries that had traditionally taken a soft stance on Iran.
Alatas, a former foreign minister, said the nuclear standoff should not be seen as a conflict between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds, but instead as one over the issue of nuclear proliferation.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said in a hearing with the defense and foreign affairs commission at the House later in the evening that he could understand the public strong response at home to the government's decision to support the UN resolution.
Hassan said the UN Resolution 1747, the second after a similar one issued in December 2006, gave emphasis to efforts seeking a peaceful solution to the Iran nuclear issue.
"Indonesia hopes all sides, especially Iran and the Big Five plus Germany, which co-sponsored the resolution, will continue seeking peaceful solutions to the issue," he said, while referring to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
He said the nuclear issue was brought to the UNSC meeting because Iran was suspected of developing nuclear technology to produce weapons of mass destruction.
Indonesia will support Iran if the latter develops its nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Middle East is free from nuclear arms to calm tension in the region, he added. (tjp/dar)
