Breaking with Indonesia's past<\/p>\n
The clear victory of a former general, Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, in Indonesia's presidential election is good for
\nAustralia. In more than three decades, Indonesian presidents have
\nmade just two brief official visits to Australia, despite scores
\nof prime ministerial trips the other way. The vanquished
\npresident, Megawati Soekarnoputri, had little enthusiasm for the
\nbilateral relationship and, at one stage, went as far as refusing
\nto take telephone calls from the Prime Minister, John Howard.<\/p>\n
Mr Susilo was in Melbourne last year when he prefaced his
\nvision for political reform in Indonesia with anecdotes of his
\nson's university studies in Australia. He is likely to move
\nswiftly to redress the historic imbalance in high-level contacts
\nand make an early goodwill visit. This is not to suggest the
\ndifferences that so often mar Australia's relationship with its
\nclosest, and most strategically important neighbour, will not
\npersist. But better communication could go a long way to
\nimproving management of future tensions.<\/p>\n
Whether Mr Susilo will be good for Indonesia is a more
\nimportant question. Canberra is understandably keen to push
\nsecurity co-operation with Jakarta because of the clear threat
\nposed by the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network.
\nThe concerns of ordinary Indonesians - poverty, health, education
\n- are far more basic but not necessarily unconnected with
\nterrorism's roots. Instability and extremism are fanned by under-
\nemployment which has left far too many young Indonesian men, in
\nparticular, idle, resentful and unable to support their families.
\nThis is especially so while the political elite and bureaucracy
\ncontinue to use public office for personal enrichment.<\/p>\n
Mr Susilo's rapid rise broke traditional patterns of political
\nloyalty in Indonesia. Ms Megawati was deserted by voters who had
\nrevered her father, Sukarno, the nation's founding president. Mr
\nSusilo must now demonstrate his resolve to break entrenched
\npatterns of political behaviour. That means reviving Indonesia's
\nstalled reform movement, which began with such promise and hope
\nwhen Soeharto, the authoritarian president, was toppled six years
\nago.<\/p>\n
-- The Sydney Morning Herald<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/breaking-with-indonesias-past-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }