JP\/6\/BANDORO<\/p>\n
LEGISLATORS ARE
\nNOT AMBASSADORS COMMANDERS<\/p>\n
Bantarto Bandoro
\nEditor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly',
\nCenter for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies
\nbandoro@csis.or.id<\/p>\n
Indonesian ambassadors are the representatives of our
\ngovernment, people and values around the world. They must lead
\nour overseas posts and manage the program and the resources that
\nsupport those posts and programs. Therefore Indonesia should send
\nonly its best and most qualified people abroad as ambassadors.<\/p>\n
But is the fit and proper test, as demanded by our
\nlegislators, the appropriate mechanism to produce highly
\nqualified ambassadors? Or why should the legislators be the party
\nto determine who should become ambassadors?<\/p>\n
These were the issues raised in a recent editorial and article
\nin this newspaper (the latter by Siswo Pramono).<\/p>\n
According to Article 13 of the amended Constitution, the
\npresident must take into account the opinion of the House with
\nregards to the appointment of ambassadors. Such a mandate was
\npracticed by the House with full confidence as if they are the
\none and only party who determine who should become Indonesian
\nambassadors.<\/p>\n
Members of the Commission I acted as if they are the
\ncommanders of the ambassadors. The statements by certain members
\nwith regard to the screening of the candidates reflects the
\nsupposed political strength possessed by the House. It also
\nreflects their undeterred move to intervene in what once used to
\nbe the domain of the executive.<\/p>\n
Legislator Djoko Susilo had stated that "if we tighten our
\nselection, perhaps more than half of the candidates would be
\ndisqualified". Former chairman of Commission I, Yasril Ananta
\nBaharuddin, also stated that "if we conducted the fit and proper
\ntest publicly, most of the candidates would have been embarrassed
\nbecause the public would see what a lack of quality they
\npossess."<\/p>\n
Yasril must have forgotten that he was once part of the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs and therefore should have known that
\nthe ministry has better knowledge and files on "good and
\nqualified ambassadors."<\/p>\n
Those statements are improper, groundless and tend to focus on
\nshort-term interests. Why should the House tighten their
\nselection, if their selection criteria has never been made
\npublic?<\/p>\n
Unfair and unilateral judgment by the House using unknown
\ncriteria would only create the image that the legislators have
\ntheir own agenda and also seek to become envoys.<\/p>\n
Actually a fit and proper test would strengthen and nurture
\ndemocratization in selecting ambassadors and others for certain
\nimportant posts. But it would be a big mistake for legislators to
\nuse such a mechanism to further their political interests.<\/p>\n
Their statements and their inflexible stand on the
\nambassadorial selection issue have gone beyond the normal
\npractice of selecting ambassadors.<\/p>\n
Legislators should not apply their own rigid interpretation of
\nthe wording of Article 13 of the Constitution, "to take into
\naccount the House's opinion"; their opinion is not binding.<\/p>\n
Legislators said they rejected some of the candidates because
\nthey failed to demonstrate clear understanding about the host
\ncountry and could only present in their 20-page paper a copied
\nversion of a "travel guide".<\/p>\n
For some, perhaps the real problem is not whether the
\ncandidates have a proper understanding about their missions and
\nplans. The real problem is whether the legislators have an
\nunderstanding about the missions and host country or other
\nIndonesian international affairs more extensively than the
\nambassadorial candidates.<\/p>\n
The positive thing in the affair is that the public have a say
\nin the nomination of envoys. The point which should be stressed
\nis the quality of ambassadors.<\/p>\n
Ambassadors should have an in-depth knowledge and
\nunderstanding of major world problems. Envoys should try to form
\na clear picture of the international situation, to analyze it
\nproperly and to evolve their own judgment. Thus, the legislators
\nmust recognize that the candidates can no longer be content in
\nunderstanding bilateral relations alone, in view of the
\ninterdependence of nations.<\/p>\n
There are far more factors in this judgmental process then
\nthere were in the days of classical diplomacy. Consequently, the
\nability to synthesize should be developed even more than the
\nability to analyze. Perhaps this is the kind of qualification
\nthat must be revealed by the fit and proper test. The test must
\nalso be able to detect whether the candidates are well informed
\nabout the impact of the advancement of information and
\ncommunication technology on Indonesian diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Article 13 of the amended Constitution will remain, and the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs cannot avoid submitting the list of
\nambassadorial candidates to the House. But the primary authority
\nfor choosing ambassadors rests with the president.<\/p>\n
The pulling and hauling between the House and the government
\non the selection of ambassadors is unlikely to produce serious
\ntension between both sides. The legislators will continue to
\nenjoy their political rights provided by article 13, while there
\nis just no sign that the government will antagonize the House.<\/p>\n
The government would then have no choice but to submit another
\nlist of ambassadorial candidates. In choosing ambassadors,
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri should take full advantage of
\nthe professional expertise in the ministry and ensure that the
\nhighest standards are maintained in the selection of envoys.<\/p>\n
The standards can be undermined when individuals are chosen as
\nambassadors primarily for their personal friendship with the
\npresident.<\/p>\n
Indonesian diplomacy and diplomats are under public scrutiny.
\nThe legislators will continue to have a closer look at the list
\nof ambassadorial candidates. But ambassadors's exposure to
\nIndonesian international diplomacy will later prove their
\nunderstanding of international affairs is far better than that of
\nlegislators.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp6bandoro-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}