New perspective needed in Australian-Indonesian ties<\/p>\n
By Siswo Pramono<\/p>\n
CANBERRA (JP): How many Australians would agree with Pauline
\nHanson that Australia should stop sending aid to Indonesia
\nbecause the people there had burned Australian flags? In 1999,
\nAustralians and Indonesians burned each other's flags. It is
\nbizarre, however, that relations between the two countries, about
\n220 million people in total, are reduced to flag-burning
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
In the past two decades, Indonesian-Australian relations have
\nsuffered many crises, with the worst being at the turn of the
\n20th century.<\/p>\n
With any incident, narrow-minded nationalism can be inflicted
\nto worsen the friction. In times of crisis, nationalism serves as
\nan irrational, blind attachment that seizes every aspect of life.
\nAn enduring Indonesian-Australian relationship must be based on a
\nnew perspective, capitalizing on accommodation while abandoning
\nthis narrow-minded nationalism.<\/p>\n
Australia is in the process of nation building. It is a
\n"Western country in Asia", confused on where to stand. It is a
\ndemocratic state frustrated by protracted reconciliation with its
\naboriginal community. And it is a society with shifting
\naffections from British monarchy to republicanism.<\/p>\n
This anxiety has led to the quest for an Australian identity,
\nwhich has heightened nationalism. The growing jingoistic
\nattitudes are seen in "patriotic" commercials of Australian
\nproducts, the great parade of the Sydney Olympics, the victorious
\nEast Timor mission and the centenary anniversary of federation.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, too, is in the process of nation building. From
\nSabang to Merauke there is no such thing called "Indonesia" but a
\nbunch of different ethnic, racial, religious, languages and local
\nhistories, united by colonialism.<\/p>\n
It was born with nationalism as the driving force of its
\ndelivery. As disintegration and acute economic crisis now
\nchallenge the unitary state, many invoke nationalism as an
\nescape.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is becoming touchy in its foreign relations. It
\ncries for international help while it becomes so sensitive that
\nat anytime, an offer of aid can be considered foreign
\nintervention. Narrow-minded nationalism can be counterproductive
\nto Indonesian foreign policy.<\/p>\n
It emphasizes a degrading dichotomous approach.<\/p>\n
One side is treated as superior, while the other is viewed as
\nweak, dependent or unimportant. Many Australians have the
\nillusion that Australia is the only power in the region that
\nshould right the wrong that has been done by Indonesia. And many
\nIndonesians consider Australians as patronizing white colonizers
\nimposing their will by taking advantage of Indonesia's
\nweaknesses.<\/p>\n
Both sides are wrong and should learn to treat each other with
\nrespect.<\/p>\n
Ironically, Australia and Indonesia are communities obsessed
\nwith the rhetoric of tolerance and accommodation of differences.
\nInterethnic relations, such as among white and nonwhite and the
\nindigens in Australia, or among different ethnic groups in
\nIndonesia, are always strained.<\/p>\n
"Multiculturalism" has always been a topic of public discourse
\nin Australia, as is "unity in diversity" in Indonesia. But when
\nit comes to bilateral relations, narrow-minded nationalism
\noverrides this much talked about tolerance and accommodation.<\/p>\n
Promotion of human rights is among the main issues of
\nAustralian politics. The Howard government has been a target of
\nfierce criticism for its "bad" handling of reconciliation with
\nthe aboriginal community.<\/p>\n
And Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party has already asserted an
\nantireconciliation approach. Ill treatment of illegal immigrants,
\nwhich triggered riots recently in the Woomera detention center,
\nhave also raised concerns of human rights abuse.<\/p>\n
Australian human rights foreign policy counterbalances what it
\nfails to achieve back home. In a way, the human rights issue
\noccupies a central place in Australian party politics. It will
\ncontribute to the success or failure of the current coalition
\ngovernment in the next election.<\/p>\n
Many human rights issues in Indonesia have been and will
\nalways be on the Australian agenda. Domestication of foreign
\nissues in party politics is reflected in various parliamentary
\ndebates. Last year, during question time in the Australian
\nParliament, foreign policy issues occupied considerable time in
\ndiscussing conflicts in East Timor and West Timor, Maluku and
\nIrian Jaya.<\/p>\n
While both countries now use democracy as the denominator of
\nbilateral relations, it should not be taken for granted that they
\nalways share the same values. This does not mean that each has to
\ncompromise the values it believes in.<\/p>\n
This means that bilateral relations will flourish when both
\nparties accept and respect the differences and fail when they
\ndeny and suppress these.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, for quite some time, will be the weak side of the
\nbilateral relations. Political reform is not an overnight
\nprocess. Nonetheless, many Indonesians share the belief that they
\nwill and they must survive the test.<\/p>\n
Australian critics must be patient with Indonesia and respect
\nthe sacrifices made by Indonesians to attain a better future.
\nAustralia should thus show more courtesy and accommodation to
\nIndonesia. This is not a kind of altruism, but a nurturing of a
\nlong-term common interest of both sides.<\/p>\n
It is a necessity for Australia to help Indonesia so that
\ndemocratization proceeds on track.<\/p>\n
The next five years of the Indonesian-Australian relationship
\ncannot escape the domestication of Indonesian issues in
\nAustralian party politics. At anytime, narrow-minded nationalism
\nis a ready vehicle for politicians of both sides to appeal for
\npublic support at the expense of bilateral ties.<\/p>\n
To avoid another crash, both Australia and Indonesia must
\nfocus on confidence building measures by relying more on
\naccommodation and repressing possible recurrence of narrow-minded
\nnationalism.<\/p>\n
Arizal Effendi, the former Indonesian envoy to Australia, once
\nstated, "it takes two to tango". Thus, the old ties must proceed
\nwith a new perspective in sight.<\/p>\n
The writer is a postgraduate student of political science at
\nthe Australian National University in Canberra.<\/p>",
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