Playing the good host<\/p>\n
Every time an Israeli delegation is due here for a visit, the
\ngovernment has to be extra careful about the political
\nrepercussions that may arise. Many people here, for political
\nreasons, are still opposed to Israel's participation in whatever
\nevent.<\/p>\n
Almost all Indonesians who share this attitude link their
\nanti-Israel sentiment with the Preamble of the Constitution,
\nwhich states that freedom is the right of all nations. And Israel
\nhas for the last 50 years deprived the Palestinians of this
\nright. Therefore, they say, allowing an Israeli sport delegation
\nto play here means to recognize its brutal oppression of the
\nPalestinian struggle.<\/p>\n
The trouble is that this year Indonesia will host the 38th
\nWorld Outdoor Archery Championships, lasting from Aug. 1 through
\nAug. 6. Israel and Portugal, two countries with whom Jakarta
\nhappens to have no diplomatic relations, are scheduled to
\nparticipate. And the event will be opened by no less a person
\nthat President Soeharto himself.<\/p>\n
The question is: Must Indonesia deny the two countries entry
\nto the tournament, which would mean that it will turn the sports
\nmeet into a political event in an ostentatious manner? If it were
\nto do so, what should be the reason for such an action?<\/p>\n
While Israel has never maintained diplomatic relations with
\nIndonesia, Portugal severed relations after East Timor, the
\ncolony which it left, was integrated into Indonesia in 1976.<\/p>\n
Anti-Israel sentiment still runs high among many Indonesians.
\nIn 1991, a tennis match during an international youth tournament
\nin Bombay, India, raised a blast of protests when Indonesian
\nplayers competed against Israel. The incident forced the
\nIndonesian Tennis Association to make a public apology.<\/p>\n
Thus, although Indonesia will not compete face-to-face against
\neither Israel or Portugal in next week's world archery
\nchampionships, the question of the participation of Israel and
\nPortugal deserves to be discussed in earnest.<\/p>\n
First, as the hosts of the event, Indonesians would do well to
\ncalmly consider the fact that the championship is just a sporting
\nevent, and not a political game. The host country is bound by
\ninternational protocol, and allowing Israel to play here does not
\nmean that this country has changed its stand.<\/p>\n
After President Soeharto met with Israeli Prime Minister
\nYitzhak Rabin at his residence in October 1993 -- the Indonesian
\npresident was acting as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement --
\nhe has remained a tough supporter of the Palestinian cause.<\/p>\n
In 1962, President Sukarno barred Taiwan and Israel from
\ntaking part in the Asian Games in Jakarta, but political
\nconditions at that time were entirely different. Israel and the
\nArab countries were involved in a war of attrition, while now
\neven the Palestinians meet with the Israelis at the negotiating
\ntable.<\/p>\n
Sports, in many cases, cannot be separated from politics and
\ncan even help express political concerns -- such as the West's
\nboycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 in protest of the
\noccupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union -- but to make
\nevery sporting event a political game does not represent wise
\nstatesmanship in this shrinking world.<\/p>\n
For certain Indonesia will be appreciated by the international
\ncommunity for its broad-mindedness by allowing the two countries
\nto compete in the upcoming world archery championship.<\/p>\n
Former state minister of environment Emil Salim was only being
\nsensible when he aired his support for Indonesia's tolerance and
\ndiscipline towards international sport protocol in relation to
\nnext week's championship.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/playing-the-good-host-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}