Reinventing Indonesia<\/p>\n
S.P. Seth, Sydney<\/p>\n
Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is his
\ncountry's best salesman. During his recent Australia visit he was
\nexuding charm, making friends, saying the right things,
\nhandsomely sharing Australia's grief on the loss of its
\nservicemen involved in relief work in Indonesia's earthquake
\nstricken zone, and being an eternal optimist regarding his
\ncountry's future. It was a genuinely moving sight to see
\nIndonesia's First Lady Kristiani Herawati wiping her tears when
\nthe deceased Australian soldiers were given a final send off.<\/p>\n
In his pitch for his country, Susilo told Australians that
\nIndonesia was now the world's third largest democracy after India
\nand the United States. Indonesia is also a \"wondrous place where
\nIslam, democracy and modernity thrive together.\" His country,
\nsaid President Susilo, might be \"down on luck lately, but remains
\nhigh in spirit and strong in will.\"<\/p>\n
As one journalist remarked, \"It was hard not to share his
\noptimism. This is a very impressive, serious man.\" In contrast,
\nHoward's speech was \"patronizing of Indonesia's democracy and
\ndwelling mostly on religion and extremism.\"<\/p>\n
Indeed, comparisons have also been drawn between Susilo and
\nMalaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi who followed the
\nPresident on a state visit. And Susilo scored high marks. It is
\nunderstandable, though, because Abdullah didn't shy away from
\noffending Australian sensibilities whether it was the question of
\nCanberra's doctrine of pre-emption or its invitation to the
\nforthcoming East Asian summit.<\/p>\n
President Susilo was more circumspect or supportive, for
\ninstance, on inviting Australia to the summit. He did, however,
\npolitely urged Australia to sign ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and
\nCooperation (TAC).<\/p>\n
As one commentator pointed out, \"In contrast to the genuine
\ngoodwill that accompanied the earlier visit by the Indonesian
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, there didn't seem to be much
\ngenuine warmth...\" during Abdullah's visit.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister John Howard wasn't too happy with Abdullah's
\nreticence to support Australia's attendance at the forthcoming
\nEast Asian summit. He said, \"...We'd be very happy to participate
\nbut we are not knocking on doors begging admission.\" He added,
\n\"Australia is a strong, respected, involved country in the region
\nand that will be the case whether or not we're at the summit.\"<\/p>\n
The contrast between Susilo and Abdullah was, on the whole, a
\nmatter of style rather than substance. Because both Indonesia and
\nMalaysia are keen on Australia to sign the ASEAN non-aggression
\npact and are opposed to its pre-emption doctrine.<\/p>\n
The problems, though, arise because, among other things, as
\nProf. Harold Crouch has pointed out in a newspaper article,
\n\"Australian leaders have often been seen as arrogant, overbearing
\nand lacking real interest in our neighbors.\" He gave as example
\nJohn Howard's welcoming speech for Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi
\nwhen he recounted how Australia had helped Malaya by sending
\ntroops to fight communist insurgency in the 1950s, and has
\nprovided education to 200,000 Malaysian students.<\/p>\n
Crouch rightly pointed out that, \"Australian troops were sent
\nto Malaya-as it was then-when it was still part of the British
\nEmpire. The troops responded to a request from London, not Kuala
\nLumpur...\" Therefore, all this litany of good deeds is pointless
\nand annoying in today's context.<\/p>\n
There is certainly a new mood in the region exemplified by
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He believes that Indonesia
\ncould become a \"bridge to East Asia\" for Australia. He has
\nhandsomely acknowledged and expressed gratitude for Australia's
\ngenerous tsunami assistance.<\/p>\n
But even Susilo, despite his expansive style and ingrained
\noptimism, is not starry-eyed about it. He said, \"We know from
\nexperience our relations are so complex and unique, that (they)
\ncan be pulled in so many different directions and it can go right
\nas often as it can go wrong, which is why we have to handle it
\nwith the greatest care and counsel.\"<\/p>\n
However, he seems keen to reinvent Indonesia as a vibrant
\ncountry with lots of potential for those who want to partake of
\nits opportunities. If this image were to take on, it will bring
\nforeign investments creating a momentum of its own as has
\nhappened with China. He seems to think Indonesia's predominantly
\nMuslim character is not a minus if democracy, modernity and Islam
\ncan be made to work harmoniously, and he believes it will.<\/p>\n
Indeed, by working out residual issues with East Timor during
\nhis recent visit, he is seeking to neutralize the nagging issue
\nof human rights atrocities on the international calendar. But
\nthat might not be so easy because by refusing visas for three
\nlegal experts from the UN to investigate the issue, Jakarta might
\nonly be highlighting its culpability.<\/p>\n
At the end of the day, it is the domestic situation that will
\ndetermine where Indonesia goes. Here the opinion is divided with
\nsome regarding Susilo as a well-meaning leader but lacking in
\npolitical will. It is, however, fair to point out that he has
\nbeen in office only six months. And in that period he has managed
\nto successfully cut down the fuel subsidy in the face of popular
\nopposition. On the corruption front, the conviction and jailing
\nfor 10 years of Aceh's governor for improperly enriching himself
\nis a welcome sign of changing times.<\/p>\n
However welcome these developments are, they don't constitute
\na well laid out blueprint. Not only that the country needs a time
\nframe for planned action on a defined front, this popularly
\nelected President needs to energize and lead the nation into a
\nnew future. For this to happen, Susilo will need to take
\npolitical risks. And at the same time streamline the country's
\ninstitutions (judiciary, for instance) for them to work
\nindependently of multiple pressure points.<\/p>\n
The author is a freelance writer and can be reached
\nSushilPSeth@aol.com.<\/p>",
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