Help from RI's friends: Takeuchi and Wolfowitz<\/p>\n
Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
When Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hosts a meeting
\nwith visiting U.S. President George W. Bush in Tokyo on Monday,
\ntwo former ambassadors to Indonesia are expected to play
\nimportant roles in the summit of the leaders of two most powerful
\neconomies in the world.<\/p>\n
Vice Foreign Minister designate Yukio Takeuchi, who left his
\nambassadorial post in Jakarta on Saturday, will join Foreign
\nMinister Yoriko Kawaguchi as a part of Koizumi's entourage.
\nTakeuchi's experience as a diplomat in the world's most populous
\nMuslim nation will help the Japanese side in understanding the
\nglobal war against terrorism from a predominantly Islamic
\nnation's perspective. Takeuchi only served as the Japanese envoy
\nhere for 11 months until he was promoted to his current post.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz
\nis also expected to be involved in the preparation for Bush's
\nmeeting, not just with Koizumi, but also with leaders of China
\nand South Korea during Bush's tour to Asia this week.<\/p>\n
Takeuchi's experience as deputy chief of mission at the
\nEmbassy of Japan in Washington in 1995, and director general for
\nthe North American Affairs Bureau three years later, should also
\nbe an asset in meetings with the U.S. guests.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, despite his often harsh criticism against the
\nIndonesian government's sluggishness, if not reluctance, to curb
\nterrorist networks here, Wolfowitz is mostly remembered as a
\nfriend of Indonesia. Then U.S. president Ronald Reagan announced
\nWolfowitz's appointment in April 1986, as his envoy to Jakarta
\nshortly before his meeting with then president Soeharto in Bali.
\nWolfowitz, who at the time served as assistant secretary of state
\nfor East Asia and Pacific affairs, was considered by many to be a
\nnice 'oleh oleh' (present) for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He was arguably the most popular ambassador in Jakarta at that
\ntime. Before leaving Jakarta in May 1989, Wolfowitz however
\ntossed out a 'political bomb' during his farewell speech as he
\nurged strong man Soeharto to improve political openness. Ten
\nyears later he was one of the first American guests to be
\nreceived by democratically-elected president Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Wolfowitz later engineered a face-saving formula for
\nAbdurrahman -- when the latter fell from power in July 2001 -- by
\narranging a medical visit to the U.S. At the time Abdurrahman
\nwas in a tense standoff, refusing to leave Merdeka Palace and
\nhand over power to Megawati Soekarnoputri. Wolfowitz also invited
\nMegawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, to the Pentagon and told
\nTaufik not to become a political liability for his wife.<\/p>\n
Therefore it is understandable, when many Indonesians may
\nexpect that their powerful friends Takeuchi and Wolfowitz can
\nhelp the whole nation, not just the government or the political
\nleaders, in getting rid of the prolonged economic bitterness and
\npolitical upheavals. Of course their priority is to defend their
\ncountry's interests above everything, but their emotional
\nattachment to Indonesia however will likely make them
\nenthusiastic to offer assistance for the country.<\/p>\n
Some may argue that Takeuchi and Wolfowitz are not so powerful
\nin their respective posts, but even in Japan, many groups,
\nincluding the media, expect much from Deputy Secretary of State
\nRichard Armitage. Armitage is regarded as the most well-informed
\nabout Japan on Bush's team due to his intensive relations with
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
In the context of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
\nSecretary General Taku Yamasaki is also known for his intensive
\nrelations with Indonesian leaders. Japanese companies often ask
\nfor his help when they encounter trouble in Indonesia. Despite
\nits current crisis, Japan's role in Indonesia's economic recovery
\nis vital, as shown by its 4 trillion yen (US$40 billion)
\nbilateral loan to Indonesia, representing 60 percent of
\nIndonesia's outstanding bilateral debts.<\/p>\n
It is disappointing that Megawati's advisors such as Minister
\nof Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda did little to express their
\npleasure with Takeuchi's promotion. Only Minister of Agriculture
\nBungaran Saragih and his Japanese wife, Mihoko, attended the
\nambassador's farewell reception last Wednesday. Takeuchi
\neventually could meet with the President on Friday night after
\nseveral delays.<\/p>\n
Megawati should learn a simple lesson from Soeharto at least
\non how to deal with Japanese diplomats here. In a rare move,
\nSoeharto awarded the coveted \"Jasa Utama\" medal for outgoing
\nJapanese ambassador Sumio Edamura for his extraordinary
\ncontributions to Indonesia when Edamura concluded his term in
\nJanuary 1990. This medal was psychologically very important for
\nbilateral diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Or look at former presidents B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman.
\nDefying basic protocol regulations, Habibie often hosted
\nluncheons or dinners for International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia
\nPacific director Hubert Neiss when the latter came here to
\nnegotiate a new letter of intent (LoI) with Indonesia. Neiss was
\nclearly pleased with the treatment although it did not
\nnecessarily make his position softer toward the government.<\/p>\n
Megawati can also learn from Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji who
\nused his good relations with her husband Taufik in accelerating
\neconomic ties between the two countries. On the prime minister's
\ninvitation, Taufik led a five-minister team to visit Beijing in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
According to press reports, Indonesia offered to buy up to 20
\nChinese oil tankers in exchange for its bid of US$10 billion
\ntoward a liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply contract for China.
\nIndonesian company Tangguh LNG, a 50-50 project owned by
\nPertamina (Indonesian State Oil & Gas Mining Company) and BP in
\nPapua, had submitted its bid. Taufik's role has reportedly been
\nvital to the negotiations.<\/p>\n
The government and private sectors often have to spend large
\namounts of money to lobby the leaders of foreign countries or
\ncorporations. There are many lobby consulting firms which provide
\nservices for their clients, so there is a cost to lobby U.S.
\npoliticians like Congress members and senators.<\/p>\n
U.S. companies operating here, like Freeport, also often use
\nrespected American figures, including Henry Kissinger and former
\npresident George Bush Sr., in lobbying Indonesian governments for
\nthe benefit of the company they represent.<\/p>\n
Using friends of Indonesia can often be effective in lobbying
\nfor the country and does not cost much. But going the extra mile
\nto maintain good relations with them is very important. There are
\nmany businessmen or government officials in Japan who have strong
\nemotional ties with Jakarta, many of them were previously posted
\nin Jakarta, and are eager to help Indonesia. That was clear
\nduring the visits of Megawati and Abdurrahman to Tokyo. The U.S.
\nsituation is also similar.<\/p>\n
The problem is how to maximize this potential opportunity
\nwisely.<\/p>",
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