President gives Australia the miss<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday said he
\nwould bypass Australia on his numerous trips abroad in the coming
\nmonths, chiding Canberra of being "childish" in handling its
\nrelationship with Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists aboard an Air Force Boeing 707 on his
\nway back from a summit of East Asian leaders in Manila,
\nAbdurrahman said he would continue with "round the world" trips
\nto lure investors and raise Indonesia's credibility abroad in the
\nnext few months.<\/p>\n
However, the President balked and launched a stinging attack
\nwhen queried over plans to visit Indonesia's southern neighbor.<\/p>\n
He indicated his reluctance to go to Australia saying he would
\nonly go if Australia's leaders showed a more mature attitude to
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
"Regarding a visit to Australia, it would depend on whether
\nAustralia has ceased its childish attitude towards Indonesia. If
\nnot then I won't go there" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman stressed that Indonesia would like to forge
\ncordial relations with Australia, however it all depended on the
\nattitude of the government there.<\/p>\n
"We want to have good relations but it's really up to them.
\nAre they still acting childish with us?" he queried.<\/p>\n
Anti-Australia sentiment in Indonesia reached its peak
\nfollowing the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Many perceived Australia, one of the first countries to
\nrecognize East Timor's integration into Indonesia and the only
\ncountry in the world to sign a legal treaty on the matter, as
\nbeing overly zealous in trying to see it breakaway from the
\nrepublic.<\/p>\n
In particular, many felt annoyed about the widescale protests,
\nboycotts and other insults against Indonesia following the East
\nTimor vote.<\/p>\n
The anti-Indonesian protests and boycotts were retaliated with
\nrowdy protests against Australian government representative
\noffices here with threats of boycotts also being mentioned.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government even decided to postpone for a brief
\nperiod the departure of its new ambassador to Australia.<\/p>\n
While deciding to skip Australia in the near future, he said
\nhe had no problem visiting Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
"Of course, sometime in the near future," he said when asked
\nby a journalist.<\/p>\n
World Tour<\/p>\n
During the media briefing, Abdurrahman revealed his plans to
\ncontinue a "world tour" despite criticism that he should first
\nresolve various matters before traveling abroad.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has now spent about half of his first 40 days in
\noffice visiting 13 countries.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday he will again leave the country -- this time for
\na three-day state visit to China.<\/p>\n
He brushed off criticism about his frequent flights abroad
\nsaying that it was necessary as it was the most effective way to
\nrestore international market confidence in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He contended that Indonesia would only be able to lift itself
\nout of the economic crisis if there was a steady stream of
\ninternational investment.<\/p>\n
"We need massive investment in our country. Therefore my duty
\nin this first year is to go around the world," Abdurrahmam
\ncontended.<\/p>\n
Of his departure to Beijing on Wednesday, Abdurrahman said
\nthat the decision to make it his first official state visit was
\ndue to China's decisive role in Asia.<\/p>\n
"This is very important because although relations between
\nIndonesia and China are quite good, there are also various
\ncomplications," said the President without elaborating.<\/p>\n
China openly expressed its concern over nationwide rioting in
\nMay last year which resulted in many Indonesians of Chinese
\ndescent fleeing abroad.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has stated several times that he would like to see
\nall those who fled return and help to build the country. He also
\nunderlined that he would not tolerate ethnic or religious
\ndiscrimination.<\/p>\n
Following China, it is expected that Abdurrahman will have his
\nlongest stay in Indonesia since becoming president.<\/p>\n
He said that he would like to visit India after the end of
\nIdul Fitri, or Lebaran as it is often referred to here,
\nfestivities in January.<\/p>\n
"I think the visit to India can be after Lebaran, when exactly
\nI don't know yet as it is still being discussed between the
\nIndian Embassy and our representative in New Delhi," he said
\nwhile stressing that India was a regional power.<\/p>\n
He further added that he still did not know yet whether the
\nstate visit would be part of a series of visits which included
\nPakistan.<\/p>\n
"In my view there should be an official visit to Pakistan,
\njust like the two or three day visit to India," Abdurrahman
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
"For me India and Pakistan should both be equally
\nrespected". (prb\/mds)<\/p>",
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