Arifin raises to the tough U.S. challenge<\/p>\n
By Yenni Djahidin<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON D.C. (JP): He is regarded as a good diplomat by
\nmany in Washington, D.C. He is bright, articulate and willing to
\nlisten to different views. A banker by training, Indonesian
\nAmbassador to the United States Arifin Siregar says he likes his
\njob, which he describes as challenging.<\/p>\n
The former trade minister and central bank governor said that,
\nalthough relations between Indonesia and the United States are
\ngood, some issues have damaged the ties.<\/p>\n
\"The political contribution issue is very disturbing to our
\ngood relationship,\" said Siregar, who loves reading, jogging, and
\nwatching old war movies. Issues like East Timor, human rights and
\ndemocracy have continued to undermine bilateral ties, he said.<\/p>\n
His ambassadorship since 1993 is his third U.S. posting. He
\npreviously worked as an economist at the United Nations, followed
\nby four years at the International Monetary Fund in Washington,
\nD.C.<\/p>\n
\"We like Washington. We have a nice place and we have lots of
\nfriends here,\" said Arifin, who has two adult sons. Arifin, who
\nspeaks four foreign languages, said his networking with
\nWashington contacts has helped in his job as ambassador.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Arifin, who got his doctorate in economics with
\nmagna cum laude from Munster University in Germany, recently
\nspoke with Media Indonesia's Washington correspondent Yenni
\nDjahidin at his office to discuss the current state of
\nIndonesian-U.S. relations. Here are excerpts of the interview.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you describe relations between the U.S. and
\nIndonesia?<\/p>\n
Arifin: For the last four or five years, the relationship
\nbetween the U.S. and Indonesia has been good as can be seen from
\ntrade figures. In 1996, two-way trade reached $10.2 billion, with
\nIndonesia exporting $8.2 billion and importing $4 billion. So,
\nIndonesia had a surplus. American investment has been increasing
\nin the past few years. American businesspeople have shown a
\ngrowing interest in Indonesia, as reflected by their questions,
\ntheir presence at our business seminars, and many trade missions
\nto Indonesia. They are mostly interested in infrastructure,
\ntelecommunications and transportation.<\/p>\n
In politics, the relationship is also good as reflected from
\nthe close personal relations between President Soeharto and
\nPresident Bill Clinton. In 1995, they met in the White House and
\nhave met again at the annual APEC summits. They usually have a
\ngood discussion. We, at the embassy here, also try to make
\nAmericans understand Indonesia. Americans tend to focus their
\ninterest on certain countries, and Indonesia is not one of them.<\/p>\n
Lately, there have been more articles about Indonesia, but
\nunfortunately since the beginning of the American presidential
\ncampaign last year, several unfortunate things have happened.<\/p>\n
First, the campaign finance issue where media reports said the
\nRiady family, through former Lippo Group official John Huang,
\nallegedly gave money to influence the Clinton administration.
\nThat, of course, was used by certain groups who have a negative
\nview on Indonesia's human rights situation, particularly in East
\nTimor. They said the administration policy is weak toward
\nIndonesia because of the contributions. As a result, many
\nAmericans, especially from the administration, are careful in
\nmaking decisions on Indonesia. This is very disturbing to the
\nrelationship.<\/p>\n
Around the same time, before the end of 1996, the Nobel Peace
\nPrize was awarded to East Timorese activists Bishop Belo and Jose
\nRamos-Horta. This, of course, was used by groups who dislike
\nIndonesia to focus attention on East Timor, especially on
\nIndonesia's human rights records.<\/p>\n
These developments are very disturbing and we have done
\nnumerous things to try to explain the situation. We have also
\ntried to persuade the administration staff, congress, the mass
\nmedia, think tanks and NGOs.<\/p>\n
We also work together with Americans, who we think of as our
\nfriends or have an interest in Indonesia, such as American
\ncompanies. We emphasize that for a good relationship between the
\nU.S. and Indonesia, it's best to have a good political
\nrelationship. We hope that businesspeople will try to give
\naccurate information to their representatives in congress and to
\nthe administration and think tanks. That's very important.<\/p>\n
The American media are different. Every media has its own
\npolicy. We have responded to articles that are not completely
\ntrue. We have sent letters to newspaper editors, but some papers
\nwould not publish our letter if the content was not in accordance
\nwith their policy. Or if they published the letter, they would
\nmake changes the way they wanted. But overall, I see some
\nsignificant changes in the press. They are not always negative.
\nThey also write about developments in Indonesia. There are some
\nattempts at balance now, although they remain unbalanced when it
\ncomes to human rights and democracy.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you give information to Americans about Indonesia?<\/p>\n
A: In different forms. I give speeches at universities, think
\ntanks, and business associations. I have had lunch with think
\ntank staff and Congressional staff, and visited them. We have
\nalso invited several Congressmen to Indonesia. In early August,
\nPresident Soeharto will receive Craig Thomas, a senator from the
\nAsia-Pacific subcommittee. We also arrange cultural evenings
\nwhere we invite politicians and the press.<\/p>\n
Q: How will the Lippo issue affect relations between U.S. and
\nIndonesia?<\/p>\n
A: One important question is how long this campaign finance
\nhearing will last. As you know, this hearing is conducted every
\nday. The media always mention John Huang and Lippo. Not only the
\nadministration but also Congress wants to keep it low-key to
\nIndonesia. During the hearings, the administration and congress
\nwill be very careful in making any statement about Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you think relations with the U.S. Administration after
\nPresident Clinton will be any better?<\/p>\n
A: I don't know. That's hard to say. But I can say that when the
\nhearings are finished, maybe the situation will be improved. But
\nwe don't know when the hearings will finish. I think it may last
\nuntil the end of this year or early next year. This issue of
\nIndonesian contributions and influence has also spread to other
\nareas. Reports have also tried to link James Riady and the U.S.-
\nIndonesian Society.<\/p>\n
Q: What are the embassy's priorities now?<\/p>\n
A: Our priority is that we have to convince our friends that
\nIndonesia is an important country. There are improvements in our
\neconomic and political relationships. We try to convince them
\nthat Indonesia has many aspects. But because of the advanced
\ntechnology, people here know what happens in Indonesia within a
\ncouple of hours. So, we can't cover up what happened there,
\nespecially when it is linked to human rights violations.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you react to criticism at home that Indonesian
\ndiplomats are not aggressive?<\/p>\n
A: It depends. Many people forget that Americans know very
\nquickly what happens in Indonesia. So when something happens in
\nIndonesia, we cannot deny it. The only thing we can do is justify
\nwhy things happened. Whether it is the East Timor case or (labor
\nactivist) Muchtar Pakpahan. We have explained it to them but they
\nsay, \"Okay, in development you have shown progress. But you've
\nproblems with human rights. Is this democracy?\" We have tried to
\njustify this. For example, in the Sri Bintang (Pamungkas) case,
\nwe told them that he was arrested because he was defaming
\nPresident Soeharto. But they said that Bintang was arrested
\nbecause he has a different view from the government. And in the
\nStates, they said, it is normal if someone has a different view
\nfrom the government. So it's difficult to explain to them that we
\nhave a different culture.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you explain the difference?<\/p>\n
A: They said for them it (having a different opinion) is not
\nbreaking the law. They said Indonesian law is weird. If we say
\nit's in accordance with our law, they say the law is weird. Why,
\nthey ask, should someone with a different view end up in jail?
\nThey also have a different view on democracy and human rights.<\/p>\n
Q: What's the attitude of American businesspeople toward the
\nissue of leadership succession and the violence during the
\nnational elections recently?<\/p>\n
A: They are still confident. American businesspeople trust the
\ndevelopment of Indonesia, especially in the government's
\nmacroeconomic policy. My task is to tell them that whatever
\nhappens, even when there is a leadership succession, whoever
\nleads Indonesia, its basic development policy will not change.
\nThe basic policy is that the private sector role will be bigger,
\ngovernment intervention in the economy will be reduced, more
\nderegulations and cooperation with foreigners is still important.
\nMaybe there will be adjustments here and there, but the
\nadjustments will not be significant.<\/p>\n
American businesspeople have confidence in long-term
\ndevelopment in Indonesia. The only thing that hampers the
\nrelationships are human rights and democracy issues. I have to
\nexplain why it's happened. After the cold war, American foreign
\npolicy priority changed. Before, it was fighting communism.
\nThat's no longer a factor. The most important issues now are
\nhuman rights, democracy and the environment. So, if we can't
\nreach an agreement on those issues, let us highlight other issues
\nsuch as economic and political issues to tell them that Indonesia
\nis an important country in the region.<\/p>\n
Q: What are you plans after your term here ends?<\/p>\n
A: Personally, I want to go into the private sector. The
\ngovernment wanted me to extend my service here. My term was
\nextended by one year in 1996. Before serving here, I had planned
\nto join the private sector. I have told the government about my
\nintention and I heard that they are now preparing my successor.
\nIf allowed, I will go home in November.<\/p>\n
Q: How would you describe your term here?<\/p>\n
A: There are lots of challenges. I like my job, although the
\ncampaign contributions and East Timor issues are very disturbing.
\nThe East Timor issue is not only straining relations between
\nIndonesia and the U.S., but also with many other Western
\ncountries, like Australia and Japan. As a diplomat, I tried to
\ngive a balanced and positive view, but don't forget that people
\nhere know what happens in Indonesia very quickly. We can't cover
\nit up. We can only justify why things happened.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you think the problem will be resolved?<\/p>\n
A: It's very difficult to solve. We have to solve it in
\nIndonesia. As long as the East Timor issue is not settled, our
\nrelationship with the U.S. and many western countries will always
\nbe disturbed.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you think your successor should do?<\/p>\n
A: I think he or she should maintain good relations with various
\ngroups, such as the business community, think tanks, congress,
\nthe press and the administration. I know the most difficult one
\nis the press.<\/p>",
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