'Kangaroo 95' brings neighbors together<\/p>\n
By Dewi Anggraeni<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE, Australia (JP): Kangaroo 95, or the K-95 defense
\nexercise in Australia which involved 17,000 navy, army and air
\nforce personnel, 16 ships, 110 aircraft and large numbers of
\nwheeled and tracked vehicles, just ended. Despite protests in
\nvarious places in Australia, the exercise went smoothly and was
\nvisited by Indonesian Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat and
\nIndonesian Armed Forces Commander Feisal Tanjung.<\/p>\n
When asked how the exercise effected the relationship between
\nIndonesia and Australia, chief defense force spokesman, Brigadier
\nAdrian D'Hage, unreservedly said it had been an outstanding
\nsuccess. Not only did it promote greater cooperation to achieve a
\nmore secure region, it also helped the two countries' forces
\ndevelop camaraderie on an informal level.<\/p>\n
Australia organizes Kangaroo exercises once every three years.
\nThis was the first Kangaroo exercise that included countries
\nother than the U.S and New Zealand. More significantly, Indonesia
\nwas the second largest guest, after the Americans, with
\napproximately 160 of its paratroopers taking part. The other
\nparticipating countries were Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New
\nGuinea, the United Kingdom and Canada.<\/p>\n
Since the objective of K-95 is to test the ability of the
\ncombined force to defend Australia with little warning, there is
\nan implicit recognition that Indonesia is not regarded as a
\npossible aggressor. In his news release, the Chief of the
\nAustralian Defense Force, General John Baker, stated that
\nAustralia had invited regional countries to participate in K-95
\nin keeping with the policy of engaging \"our near neighbors in
\ncloser defense cooperation as outlined in the 1994 Defense White
\nPaper.\"<\/p>\n
The Australian Defense Force seemingly regards its
\nrelationship with the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) as solid.<\/p>\n
When asked what impact the protests had on the exercise,
\nLieutenant-Colonel Andrew Reynolds, the head of Media Liaison
\nOffice of K-95, simply answered, \"None whatsoever. The Defense
\nForce in Australia is apolitical. We only carry out what has been
\ndecided by the politicians.\"<\/p>\n
It is curious that, following the first flag-burning incident
\nin front of Defense Minister Robert Ray's electoral office in the
\nMelbourne suburb of Nunawading, it was ABRI that denied its
\noccurrence. Most probably, because the Australian media were not
\naware of the incident, ABRI thought the report had been
\nfabricated by a mischievous stirrer with a vested interest in
\ndamaging Australian and Indonesian relations.<\/p>\n
The flag burning was then literally blown out of proportion in
\nthe Indonesian media. ABRI's immediate damage control strategy
\nwas to deny everything. However, subsequent flag-burnings on
\nIndonesia's Independence Day two weeks later were widely reported
\nin Australia, and even copied by a group of protesters who burnt
\nan Australian flag in front of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.
\nABRI, however, continued to react soberly. This contrasted with
\nthe outrage expressed by many non-ABRI individuals.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, K-95 was in full swing, seemingly oblivious
\nto all the noise and controversy surrounding it.<\/p>\n
Every year there are at least five protests involving public
\nflag burnings in Australia. They have invoked nothing stronger
\nthan a frown from a passerby. This time it was different.<\/p>\n
Robert Ray was so disgusted by the insensitivity of the flag-
\nburners that he proposed that burning foreign nations' flags be
\noutlawed. This warranted a reaction from the Opposition Leader
\nJohn Howard, who confessed to being annoyed by the same
\ninsensitivity which disgusted Robert Ray. However, John Howard
\nopposed a legal ban, saying it was against the democratic right
\nof the people to protest. Howard even quoted Voltaire, \"I don't
\nagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your
\nright to say it.\"<\/p>\n
In an exclusive interview, answering my question about the
\nrather troublesome relationship between the two nations, Federal
\nMinister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans said, \"The
\nrelationship between us is just too substantial and too important
\nto be allowed to be blown off-course by what are essentially a
\nfew protest groups on each side. At the governmental level,
\nwhether one is talking about foreign relations, economic
\nrelations or defense relations, I still believe that the
\ncommitment is very strong. Each side realizes that we'd have an
\nenormous amount to lose if we allowed the relationship to be
\nblown off-course.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia helped defend Australia from the fictitious enemy
\nOrange Land in an exercise stretching from Derby in Western
\nAustralia across the Northern Territory to Queensland on the east
\ncoast, including international and territorial waters.<\/p>\n
\"Who then is Orange Land?\" wonder political observers. One
\nthing is sure, it isn't Australia's near neighbor Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Senator Evans assured: \"The days of regarding all the
\ncountries to our north as a source of threat rather than
\nopportunity for Australia, are over. Most Australians want
\nfriendship with Indonesia. They want a good economic and
\npolitical relationships with Indonesia.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kangaroo-95-brings-neighbors-together-1447893297",
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