Jakarta – The small, but outspoken, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) stated here on Wednesday that it was against the visit of US President George W. Bush to Indonesia.

PKS vice chairman Suryama said Bush's visit was intended to intimidate Indonesia and its Muslim population in connection with the issue of terrorism. "We [at PKS] protest Bush's visit, who is coming here to intimidate [us], particularly regarding the terrorism issue," Suryama told journalists.

Bush arrived in Bali on Wednesday morning for talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri and three prominent Muslim leaders, with the war on terrorism on the agenda.

The three Muslim leaders are: Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif and rector of Jakarta-based Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Dr Azyumardi Azra.

Four Indonesian Muslim leaders had been invited to the talks, but Abdullah Gymnastiar, or Aa Gym, a popular preacher and leader of Bandung-based Daarut Tauhid Islamic boarding school, declined the invitation.

Suryama said he understood why the three Muslim leaders accepted the invitation, but said he did not see any point in meeting Bush, because each was only given five minutes to speak.

The PKS leader maintained that Bush's visit would not benefit Indonesia.