Domestic affairs key to RI's international role<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As Indonesia assumes a non-permanent seat at the
\nUnited Nations Security Council, experts and academics noted the
\nresolution of domestic matters as a prerequisite to boosting the
\ncountry's international role and image.<\/p>\n
"The country's domestic political and economic performance has
\nto be sufficiently established before we can perform unencumbered
\nin the international forum," said C.P.F. Luhulima, a senior
\ninternational affairs researcher at the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar on Indonesia's role as a member of the
\nSecurity Council at the Dr. Soetomo Press Institute yesterday,
\nLuhulima stated that the implementation of a "free and active"
\nforeign policy owed its strength to Indonesia's domestic success.<\/p>\n
He explained that as a consequence of Indonesia's successful
\neconomic development, a more politically aware society has
\nemerged with a strong urge to demand greater freedom.<\/p>\n
Luhulima noted that these challenges include human rights,
\npolitical rights, the economy and social and cultural challenges,
\nalong with the need for good governance.<\/p>\n
"We must not forget that we can only play our role in the
\nforum successfully if we can settle these urgent domestic
\nproblems," he warned.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 1, Indonesia officially took its seat at the Security
\nCouncil for the 1995-1996 term. This is the second tenure in the
\nCouncil after Indonesia previously holding a seat in 1974.<\/p>\n
Being a strong exponent of Third World causes, many have cited
\nthis opportunity as a time for Indonesia to exercise much of its
\nrhetoric.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia's ability to promote its own interests and that of
\nthe developing countries heavily depends on facing the rapidly
\nrising challenges at home," Luhulima said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that in the face of these domestic challenges, the
\ncountry must maintain its national unity.<\/p>\n
Soedjati Djiwandono, from the Center for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies, pointed out the problems the foreign
\nministry encounters abroad when it is harried by certain parties
\nat home undermining their policies abroad.<\/p>\n
He focused on the East Timor case in which he said
\nirresponsible individual actions have weakened Indonesia's
\ncredibility abroad.<\/p>\n
He did not give any example, but such damaging actions have
\nbeen widely reported by the local media. One report said two
\nsoldiers entered a church in Dili and desecrated Christian
\nartifacts.<\/p>\n
Soedjati remarked that the foreign ministry in its efforts
\nabroad were doing their job well. It was these internal incidents
\nthat were pulling the rug from under their feet.<\/p>\n
"I feel sorry for Deplu (the foreign ministry)," he said while
\nstressing the need for an improvement in the government's policy
\non East Timor.<\/p>\n
Soedjati also questioned demands by developing countries to
\nrestructure the Security Council for a more equal representation,
\nbasing their arguments on the notion of democratization.<\/p>\n
"Its really ironic that while developing countries demand
\ndemocratization in the international level, many of them on the
\ndomestic front do not even seem to truly implement democracy," he
\nquipped. (mds)<\/p>",
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