Cracked war drums<\/p>\n
What began as a neighborly spat has degenerated into an ignoble
\nquarrel. The dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia over a patch
\nof water in the Sulawesi Sea has taken an ugly direction over the
\npast week.<\/p>\n
Instead of quiet diplomacy, both countries have arrogantly
\ndeployed military might to emphasize their claims.<\/p>\n
Military briefings boast of scrambling F-16s, gunship
\nconfrontations and military standoffs, leading to sensational
\nnews stories that fraudulently stirs up latent xenophobia and
\nexaggerated nationalism. Suddenly, long forgotten slogans from
\nSukarno's 'Old Order' regime -- \"konfrontasi\", \"ganyang Malaysia\"
\n(crush Malaysia) -- are regurgitated in cities throughout the
\narchipelago by groups of ignorant crowds feeding on jingoism.<\/p>\n
Does anyone in their right mind really believe that Indonesia
\ncould even be remotely close to waging a military confrontation
\nwith its brethren neighbor?<\/p>\n
Those who do believe this have obviously fallen victim to two
\ncommon curses of mankind: folly and ignorance.<\/p>\n
We wholly support Indonesia's claim to the disputed territory.
\nIt has been, and hopefully will always be, an integral part of
\nthe nation. Kuala Lumpur has no right to claim territorial or
\nexclusive economic rights to the particular area. Malaysia is not
\nan archipelagic state and therefore, based on the UN Convention
\non Law of the Sea, has no right to invoke a claim based on the
\narchipelagic concept.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government must pursue every available
\ndiplomatic measure to affirm its sovereignty over the maritime
\narea in question.<\/p>\n
Should the Malaysian government, or any other foreign actor
\nfor that matter, seek to partition any territorial part of this
\nrepublic, then the nation would rightfully respond voraciously.<\/p>\n
Yet we are far from such a juncture. This is not a case of a
\ndwarf stirring up trouble with a tired giant. Nor are the two
\nnations ever likely to reach that most horrible of predicaments.<\/p>\n
Those who now so eagerly bang the war drums -- on both sides
\nof the border -- are not patriots; they are either conniving
\npolitical hustlers, or the obtuse poisoned by nationalistic
\nvanity.<\/p>\n
These unnecessary, tempestuous actions can create long-term
\nrifts between two nations of common heritage.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit on Monday to East
\nKalimantan was acquiescence to the forces of nationalistic
\nfervor. His visit did little to either reinforce Indonesia's
\nterritorial right to the area, or to defuse an overheated
\nsituation with a neighbor; a neighbor that so amicably received
\nhim less than a month ago.<\/p>\n
We can only hope that his defense of Indonesia's claim will be
\nfirm but prudent. Tactful diplomacy is, ultimately, the only
\nsensible way to resolve this dispute.<\/p>\n
Top officials from both countries must convene in the near
\nfuture. Apart from initiating what will certainly become lengthy
\nnegotiations, it will serve the more immediate purpose of cooling
\nthe atmosphere. A sincere handshake between top representatives
\nwill resonate friendship between our peoples.<\/p>\n
Once bilateral channels have been exhausted, and the nations
\ncannot resolve the matter, then Indonesia and Malaysia, as
\nfounders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
\nshould engage the diplomatic mechanisms available within the
\ngrouping.<\/p>\n
If Malaysia truly believes that it has a legitimate claim to
\nthe territory in question, then we call on them to have the
\ncourage to submit the dispute to the ASEAN High Council.<\/p>\n
ASEAN leaders proudly boast about an ASEAN Community. This is
\nan opportunity to put the boast to the test.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Malaysians and Indonesians should keep things
\nin perspective. They must not aggravate the situation with
\nunnecessarily provocative actions or purposeless fiery rhetoric.
\nPoliticians must stop fanning the fires in a cynical attempt to
\nboost their own popularity, and the military must cease their
\ncombative rhetoric.<\/p>\n
Both nations have bigger enemies to fight -- poverty, hunger,
\nnatural disasters, just to name a few. And even with the
\ndifferences between us, we have too much in common to turn each
\nother into bogeymen. True friends should bear the other's
\ninfirmities.<\/p>",
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