AMERICA CONSIDERS RI ONLY AS A FRIEND

Jakarta, Mar 16 (ANTARA) - Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives in charge of defense and foreign policy Fayakhun Andriadi of the Golkar faction said it appeared that the United States regarded Indonesia just a friend.

"But the US regards the much smaller Singapore as a close friend," he told ANTARA in relation to US President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to Indonesia from March 21 to 23, 2010.

However, Fayakhun Andriadi believed that Indonesia as a sovereign country respected the attitude and sovereignty of other countries.

"It may be that the American attitude is the consequence of Indonesia's free and active foreign policy. There is no need for us to change it, it is only that it is rather illogical to see the American stance of underestimating Indonesia's position as an important power in this region, especially in its global geopolitical and geo-strategic position," he said.

He suspected the American attitude was also prompted by their human right violations they thought were committed by the Indonesian military (TNI) during the era of the New Order, but on the other hand, frankly speaking continued exploiting the natural resources in Indonesia, like those conducted by way of Freeport in Papua, and ExxonMobile in Aceh.

"Actually they no longer have any reason to touch matters relating to alleged human right violations, because the TNI has conducted total reforms," he pointed out.

And he said that it is now that the US had been proven to violate human rights with the exposure of the Guantanamo prison mega-scandal, and the Abu Ghraib case (in Iraq), as well as some other incidents in various countries.

"And if they are demanded for their responsibility, they will always say that their action is aimed at eradicating terrorism," he said.

Therefore, if President Obama's upcoming visit is expected to bring improvements in US-RI relations, Fayakhun Andriadi said they need to change their attitude, and stop lying among us."