Legislators to give Howard the cold shoulder<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The usual niceties that accompany a state visit are being
\nignored by many politicians here, and could result in a political
\nembarrassment for both Jakarta and Canberra on Wednesday as
\nseveral legislators have pledged to give visiting Australian
\nPrime Minister John Howard the cold shoulder.<\/p>\n
Key members of both the House of Representatives and the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly have refused to submit to protocol
\nand formal pleasantries due to their bitterness toward the
\nAustralian leader, pledging instead to boycott the three-day
\nvisit.<\/p>\n
To the chagrin of the government, legislators are underscoring
\nCanberra's repeated interference in Indonesia's domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda tried to play down
\nthe boycott, saying it was not the official stance of the House,
\nwhile stressing that bilateral ties were too strong to be
\naffected.<\/p>\n
"Some of the members did raise their concerns, but not all,"
\nHassan told The Jakarta Post, after attending a hearing with the
\nHouse's Commission I on Monday.<\/p>\n
But House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno insisted
\nthat the House was firm in its stance, as a protest to Howard's
\n"interference" in Indonesian affairs, including the issue of
\nseparatist movements in Aceh and Papua.<\/p>\n
He claimed all 11 House factions supported the move, and the
\ndoors of the legislature would remain shut to the Australian
\nprime minister despite plans to visit the House on Thursday.<\/p>\n
"We do not sympathize with Australia," Soetardjo said, while
\npointedly adding that, "Australia should learn to respect
\nIndonesia, which does not want Australia to meddle in our
\ndomestic affairs!"<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais expressed support for the House's
\nposition and also said he cancel his planned meeting with Howard
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
This latest episode once again highlights the continuing
\ndifficulties of ties with Indonesia's southern neighbor.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately many of Howard's remarks over the past three
\nyears have only sharpened the thorns of an already prickly
\nrelationship.<\/p>\n
The latest outburst last year angered many here who took
\nexception as Howard scolded Jakarta for being too slow in curbing
\nthe flow of asylum seekers bound for Australia via Indonesian
\nwaters.<\/p>\n
Howard, for his part, has made a concerted effort in attempts
\nto soothe possible irritants, with varied results.<\/p>\n
He was the first "western" leader to visit Megawati after
\nbecoming president. At the time he used the term "positive
\nrealism" to describe ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
And while Megawati and her Cabinet may extend the warmest of
\nofficial greetings when he arrives, it was evident that even
\nMegawati's own party was not exactly overjoyed.<\/p>\n
"Australia has this dualistic approach when it comes to
\nPapua," said Roy BB Janis, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the House.<\/p>\n
"Howard's visit is not largely welcomed by our party," Roy
\ntold reporters after the party's weekly meeting.<\/p>\n
As a party known to strictly adhere to the authority of the
\ncentral board, particularly that of their chairwoman, PDI
\nPerjuangan's position may be a clearer barometer of the political
\nreality.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for Howard, it seems weather has also given him
\na chilly reception here.<\/p>\n
The floods that have hit Jakarta have also been a cause of
\nconcern. Only after receiving assurances from President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri that she was awaiting his arrival did he decide to
\ngo ahead with the planned visit.<\/p>\n
The prime minister has had to drop plans to stay at the Regent
\nHotel in South Jakarta due to the flood and move to the drier
\nsurroundings of the Borobudur Hotel in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A visit to the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery has also been canceled
\ndue to the flood.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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