Difficult logic<\/p>\n
I was shocked to read your reportage Canada protests RI
\nambassador (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 4, 1996). I simply cannot
\nunderstand how the foreign minister of Canada can so completely
\ndisregard international decency; all the while trying to sell to
\nIndonesia a nuclear reactor reportedly rejected by Canadians
\n(Nuclear plant should be built in Jakarta: Scholar, (The Jakarta
\nPost, Feb. 5, 1996).<\/p>\n
Correct me if I'm wrong: The Indonesian Ambassador to Canada
\nwent to see an Indonesian citizen (Theresa Ghalos, mother of
\nIsabel Ghalos) on Indonesian soil (East Timor), while Canadian
\ndiplomats based in Indonesia afterwards also went to see the same
\nperson. And yet Indonesia is on the wrong side and not the
\nCanadians for meddling within the boundaries of an independent
\nand sovereign state? Is the logic too complex for an Indonesian
\nlike myself, or is it simply out of place and out of time, a
\nvariation of \"white man's burden\" in the modern age?<\/p>\n
I am inclined to agree with Premier Mahathir Mohamad who said
\nin The Voice of Asia (co-authored by Shintaro Ishihara): \"What is
\nat the root of this sense of superiority? ...(I)t comes from the
\nperception that white people are better than colored people. It
\nis a racial and cultural phenomenon.\"<\/p>\n
Bearing in mind the close cooperation between the two
\ncountries, Canada could perhaps seriously consider the kind of
\nrelationship Indonesia has with Australia. It is based on
\ncomprehensive engagement built upon a wide range of interests and
\nnot allowed to become hostage to one issue. Or, as the case with
\nHolland, Canada may continue to test Indonesia's patience and see
\nhow far Indonesians are willing to go.<\/p>\n
ARTO S.R. SURYO-DI-PURO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/difficult-logic-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }