PM Howard's visit<\/p>\n
The offer from the Australian side to postpone the scheduled
\nvisit by Prime Minister John Howard in the event the Indonesian
\ngovernment is too preoccupied with handling the consequences of
\nthe recent flooding in Jakarta should be appreciated.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the Indonesian government's response that
\nit should go ahead as scheduled reflects Jakarta's keenness to
\nmanage the bilateral relations between the two countries on a
\nrational basis.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda visited Australia in December
\nto acquaint himself with John Howard and the prominent members of
\nhis cabinet, in particular his counterpart Alexander Downer.<\/p>\n
The visit displayed Jakarta's realistic approach toward the
\nfact that, although the Coalition parties' political platform
\npromulgated during the November election was unpalatable for many
\nAsians, including Indonesians, they won the election and the
\noutside world should deal with the Coalition government under
\nHoward's leadership.<\/p>\n
It is obvious that in his election campaign John Howard used
\nthe impact of the 9\/11 events in the United States to maximum
\neffect. The same can be said for his handling of the controversy
\nsurrounding the Tampa, which was carrying South Asian and Middle
\nEastern refugees hoping to settle in the promised land,
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
As Hilman Adil wrote in his perceptive article on Indonesian-
\nAustralian relations, quoting the historian Werner Levi (The
\nJakarta Post, Jan. 22), \"Fear is the leitmotif of Australian
\nthinking on foreign policy.\" The events of 9\/11 and the Tampa
\naffair naturally reinforced this fear of foreign intrusion
\nthreatening the idyllic Australian way of life.<\/p>\n
This concern for Australia's uniqueness as a wholesome piece
\nof Western civilization \"down under\" that has motivated Canberra
\nto pressure Indonesia to act as a first line of defense to stem
\nthe flow of \"illegal immigrants\", is objectionable to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the
\nelimination of the al-Qaeda network in that country have
\ndiminished the urgency of this problem. Besides, the Australian
\ngovernment has offered free passage home for those Afghans now in
\nrefugee camps throughout the Pacific region. However, what has
\nbeen happening at the Woomera refugee detention center has of
\ncourse not helped Australia's image in the international
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
All in all, the Bali conference at the end of this month,
\nwhich was originally slated to discuss the entire problem of the
\nrefugee flows from South Asia and the Middle East, has lost its
\nurgency. Indonesia as a co-host should be aware that Australia,
\nas the other co-host, should not be allowed to use the Bali
\nconference purely for its own self-interest and to improve its
\nstanding in the world.<\/p>\n
Judging from the critical voices in the House of
\nRepresentatives regarding Howard's visit, the nationalist streak
\nis apparently still strong in the Indonesian political culture.
\nIt expresses itself by displaying a strong sense of nationhood
\nthat seeks to preserve the territorial integrity and national
\nunity of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The parliamentarians are of course wrong in objecting to
\nHoward's visit. If they are concerned that Australia has some
\nhidden agenda regarding the future status of Irian\/Papua, they
\nshould have all the more reason for welcoming this visit and see
\nit as an opportunity to convey their concerns directly.<\/p>\n
All in all, we regard Howard's visit to Indonesia as most
\nuseful in strengthening our bilateral relationship. If the prime
\nminister is willing to learn, he will understand that the best
\ndefense for Australia's future is the creation of a secure
\ngeopolitical environment. That means, first and foremost,
\nassisting Indonesia in a significant manner in order that it may
\nbecome a prosperous and united nation conducting a responsible
\nforeign policy.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pm-howards-visit-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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