Observer Raises Suspicion Over Jokowi-Blacke Meeting

Jakarta (Antara) - A political observer accused US Ambassador Robert O Blacke of seeking to implant US influence on Indonesian presidential hopeful Joko Widodo when they met here on Monday. "As usual, the United States gives its backing for (the potential) figure to implant its influence. It is their way of dictating policy on Indonesia to strengthen their strategic presence in Southeast Asia," Igor Dirgantara from the Jayabaya University said here on Tuesday. Igor made the statement commenting on the meeting between the presidential candidate of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) together with the party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and a number of foreign ambassadors in Jakarta including those of the United States, Turkey, Peru, Mexico, Norway and Britain at the house of a business leader Jacob Soetojo at the Permata Hijau area in South Jakarta on Monday night. Igor said the "discourse of a puppet presidential candidate" being labelled on Joko Widodo or Jokowi as he is popularly known is not entirely unlikely in seeking the backing from a big country to win the presidency. "The fact that the US interest in seeking control over Indonesian economy and natural resources has been obvious from the US tapping (of telephone conversation between Indonesian leaders) as released by Edward Snowden," he said. He said the US leaders often visit countries considered as allies to support its anti Syria and Iran policy, whereas Indonesia officially adopts an active and free foreign policy. The United States is currently intensively seeking to promote its Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) scheme and wants to include Indonesia among its members together with Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, he said. (*)