Foreign policy in a democratic Indonesia<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Historic commemorations are always a good time
\nfor reflection, particularly during the nation's Aug. 17
\nIndependence Day.<\/p>\n
The sacrifices of those who fought, suffered and died for the
\nnation's independence can never be repaid.<\/p>\n
It is appropriate that patriotic pictures of gallant
\nindependence fighters with their famed bamboo spears be hung on
\nthe wall. That films be aired romanticizing how, against all
\nodds, the ill-equipped and outnumbered freedom fighters won the
\nday.<\/p>\n
But amid all the glorification of the past, sometimes it is
\nforgotten that independence was as much won by diplomacy and
\nnegotiation as it was blood and sweat.<\/p>\n
Thus it is no wonder that foreign policy has played, and
\nshould continue to play, a banner role in the life of the
\nrepublic.<\/p>\n
The dawn of the new government and revitalized self-belief
\nushered in by the Megawati administration not only brings hope of
\nstability and economic recovery, but also the prospect that
\nforeign policy can again contribute, just like in the
\nindependence struggle, in clearing a path for the recognition of
\na new emerging Indonesia.<\/p>\n
What ever regime or "Order" maybe the lord of the day,
\nIndonesia has always had a noted role in international affairs.<\/p>\n
Every schoolboy knows the geopolitical facts: Indonesia is one
\nof the biggest countries in the world with the fifth largest
\npopulation, it straddles on the equator, it is strategically
\nlocated between two continents and two major oceans, and it is a
\ncrossroads for major international shipping.<\/p>\n
And in recent times the fact that it has the largest Muslim
\npopulation in the world has come into increasing importance.<\/p>\n
From the pivotal Bandung Conference in the 1950s, Sukarno's
\nNew Emerging Forces, the formation of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the heyday of the Non-Aligned
\nMovement and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the
\nearly and mid-1990s, Indonesia for whatever reason, right or
\nwrong, has consistently tried to help shape the world order.<\/p>\n
When Indonesia huffs, the region at least puffs.<\/p>\n
But many here would gasp with horror if it was suggested that
\nIndonesia should today play the kind of heavy-duty proactive role
\nof the past.<\/p>\n
Even more will contend there is no point being so outward
\nlooking as the country cannot even get its own house in order.<\/p>\n
True though these facts may be, Indonesia has a moral
\nobligation, clearly enshrined in the 1945 Constitution, to
\n"contribute in implementing an order in the world based upon
\nindependence, abiding peace and social justice."<\/p>\n
Former foreign minister Ali Alatas recently underlined this
\nobligation for the country to continue help shape a just world
\norder, including a strong role in the region.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Hatta, Indonesia's founding father and first vice
\npresident, also set out the course of a "free and active" foreign
\npolicy without prostrating to a singular power or hegemony.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, as she presented her
\ngovernment, also underlined the important role foreign policy
\nought to play in her administration.<\/p>\n
She reasserted her faithfulness in the "free and active"
\nconcept and that among the working programs of the new government
\nwas the restoration of Indonesia's international credibility and
\nconfidence.<\/p>\n
There is real hope that the fundamentals of Indonesian foreign
\npolicy can also be adhered to this time around after the tempest
\nunder president's B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid that saw
\nthese principles widely abused.<\/p>\n
The hope lies in the appointment of career diplomat Hassan
\nWirayuda as foreign minister. A man well-versed in the decorums
\nof diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Alatas pointed out one clear advantage of having a career
\ndiplomat as foreign minister rather than a political appointee
\ni.e. the chief diplomat would not be distracted by domestic
\npoliticking.<\/p>\n
Hopefully Megawati's commitment to heeding basic foreign
\npolicy precepts will avoid indulgence toward such ideas as
\nopening diplomatic ties with Israel, as seen in the early days of
\nAbdurrahman's administration.<\/p>\n
The immediate task at hand, as stipulated by the president, is
\nto win back international confidence in Indonesia, which
\nbasically means getting investors and tourists back.<\/p>\n
But no matter how accomplished diplomats may be, if political
\nand economic stability is not guaranteed, such efforts will be
\nfutile. Foreign policy is determined by the conditions at home.<\/p>\n
Thus Hassan's success in the immediate future will depend on
\nhow well his colleagues in the Cabinet can foster market
\nconfidence and ensure stability.<\/p>\n
Reform<\/p>\n
Despite the tribulations which have and continue to occur,
\nIndonesians with the advent of the reform era have embraced a
\n"new" paradigm in their daily lives.<\/p>\n
One which better embraces the basic political and social
\nrights of its citizens.<\/p>\n
While it remains far from perfect, "the people" to some degree
\nhave the opportunity to hold their elected representatives
\nresponsible and a greater say in the running of government.<\/p>\n
If these qualities are held to be virtuous, Indonesia through
\nits foreign policy can help to at least diffuse these values to
\nits friends without being self-righteous and still uphold the
\nideal of nonintervention.<\/p>\n
Without seemingly trying to "export revolutions", Indonesia
\ncan help point the way to the first difficult steps toward a
\ndemocratic society.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is certainly no model for change, and the calamities
\nwhich it has experienced should not be wished upon anyone else.<\/p>\n
But at least it shows that change within a previously
\nimmovable totalitarian state is possible.<\/p>\n
One debatable example would be India. While the south Asian
\nstate is not regarded as the most economically developed and its
\npolitics still fraught with tension and violence, it is respected
\nfor its adherence to a democratic culture.<\/p>\n
Today in Indonesia we may not be too proud of the current
\nstate of the nation, but as long as we remain faithful to our
\ndemocratic virtues, at least we can boast that the best is yet to
\ncome.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-policy-in-a-democratic-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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