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Holy war fears exaggerated, violence to end within months: Wahid

SINGAPORE: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said reports of a brewing holy war in his country were exaggerated and hinted that he expected violence in Aceh and Ambon to die down within two months.

"I talk to the right people. I know them one by one. Because of this, I am confident that we can tackle the problem," he was quoted as saying in an interview with Singapore's Straits Times newspaper and state television published on Thursday.

He urged reticent foreign investors to "come here and see for themselves", saying Indonesia's problems were being blown up by the international media.

"There are still so many areas without troubles or we can wait for one or two months for the troubles to phase out," the paper quoted him as saying.

More than 1,500 people have died in the past year in religious clashes in Indonesia's eastern spice islands and Muslims in Jakarta have demanded a jihad or holy war against Christians in the Moluccas. Aceh has been plagued by separatist violence for years.

Wahid said those involved in the Ambon violence "are small in number as well as inconsequential in influence."

Wahid's comments were made on the eve of Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's visit to Indonesia, the first by the wealthy city-state's leader since Wahid was elected in October.

Singapore, which is one of Indonesia's largest foreign investors, hopes to play a catalytic role in terms of drawing investments to Indonesia. Wahid said he expects Goh to stand solidly behind him during his visit to the country.

"My expectation is that he will take the side of the President in the current situation where there is so much criticism against the government," Wahid said in the interview.

Wahid's government has come under fire at home for failing to stem the Ambon violence and sending mixed signals on how to deal with Aceh separatism and the need to bring the military to account over human rights abuses in East Timor, Aceh and elsewhere.-Reuters