Society doing its bit in U.S.-RI ties<\/p>\n
Yenni Djahidin, Contributor, Washington<\/p>\n
The United States-Indonesia Society (USINDO) has been acting
\nlike the second embassy for Indonesia in Washington since its
\nfounding nearly 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
Founded by former U.S. ambassador to Indonesia Ed Masters,
\nthis not-profit organization has various forum to promote
\nIndonesia. It regularly sends congressional staff delegation to
\nIndonesia offers fellowships for scholars, and brings Indonesian
\npublic figures here to inform Americans.<\/p>\n
USINDO current president, Paul Cleveland, is no stranger to
\nIndonesia. In his 37-year career as a diplomat, he served in
\nJakarta in 1965-1968, besides in Malaysia as an ambassador, New
\nZealand and Western Samoa.<\/p>\n
Cleveland recently received the writer in his office filled
\nwith furniture and wall decorations from Indonesia, to talk about
\nthe U.S.-Indonesia relations and USINDO's role. Excerpts follow:<\/p>\n
Question: How do you see the current relations between U.S.-
\nIndonesia?<\/p>\n
Answer: We have had a good relationship particularly since the
\nnew era in Indonesia. We're very much encouraged that Indonesia
\nhas become a democracy. We are trying to help Indonesia as best
\nwe can. I have some real hope that the U.S. would be able to help
\neven more in the future.<\/p>\n
What kind of help are you offering?<\/p>\n
Just as the U.S. assisted Indonesia in the late 1960s and
\nearly 1970s to move in the direction of free, private enterprise
\nand open market economy, now it is necessary to help Indonesia
\nestablish democracy. The U.S. can help through its aid programs,
\nand through providing its experience. We are the oldest democracy
\nin the world, so we've had some experience in knowing how
\ncomplicated it is. Through American and Indonesian NGOs, we're
\nproviding a lot of assistance. I'm amazed at how readily
\nIndonesians accept advice. They don't always follow it, of
\ncourse, but they seem to be very open to advice, suggestions.<\/p>\n
But they don't necessarily do it.<\/p>\n
Accepting advice and actually working hard to carry it out are
\ndifferent things. But by and large, it's been amazing how far
\nIndonesia has come in the last few years in developing democratic
\ninstitutions. For example, the amendments that have just been
\npassed by parliament are quite remarkable. They changed
\nIndonesia's government very substantially into a democracy that
\nis responsible to the people. Sovereignty now rests in the
\nIndonesian people. They have set up a system of checks and
\nbalances which are not dissimilar to the system we have. I think
\nthat is a remarkable step forward.<\/p>\n
Especially if they do it.<\/p>\n
Well, that's the next question. Will they do it? Indonesia has
\nto. They passed constitutional amendments. They now have to pass
\nlaws to implement those amendments. But on the basis of past
\nexperience, the chances of them passing good laws to carry these
\nmeasures out are quite good.<\/p>\n
How do you explain to the American audience about reports
\nalleging the presence of al-Qaeda network in Indonesia, and about
\nthe recent acquittals of Indonesian military officers from
\ncharges of human rights violations in East Timor?<\/p>\n
We don't explain ourselves as much as we bring Indonesians and
\nor Americans to our forum and let them explain.<\/p>\n
On terrorism, I would say Indonesia is a very large and
\nextremely complicated country with 17,000 islands. It's not easy
\nto find out what may exist in the way of terrorism or terrorists
\nin Indonesia. The evidence is hard to come by.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been cooperative with the United States in
\ncarrying out anti-terrorist efforts. We both have to be very
\ncareful: In Indonesia for domestic, political reasons; in the
\nU.S., we must not appear to be imposing Indonesian sovereignty in
\nany way, shape, or form.<\/p>\n
Extreme Muslims are quick and clever at exploiting anti-
\nAmerican feelings, and if we're too forceful or too aggressive in
\npressing and be seen to press Indonesia, then that can be used
\nagainst out mutual interests. I think we are handling that
\nreasonably well and working together in a cooperative way.<\/p>\n
On the human rights trials, they have been disappointing, to
\nthe international community but also to a great many Indonesians
\nwith whom I talked. The evidence gathered by the international
\ncommunity, the UN and so on, was not fully used by the
\nprosecution.<\/p>\n
When you promote Indonesia, who is your target audience?<\/p>\n
We want to reach to two groups: People within the U.S.
\ngovernment; not only the administration, but Congress as well,
\nwho are actually making policy and\/or recommending policy.<\/p>\n
The other are opinion holders, for example, certain newspapers
\nand NGOs who have a lot of influence on what's going on in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
How does the American business community see Indonesia now?<\/p>\n
With a great longing, but not so great as to be pouring money
\nin there. There are a variety of reasons American major
\nbusinesses are reluctant to invest in Indonesia. There have been
\na lot of problems in the courts, and the Manulife case is only
\none example. Manulife is coming out all right, but there is
\nanother one, the Karaha Bodas case (of the U.S.-based independent
\npower producer) which is still is underway.<\/p>\n
Beyond that, the general atmosphere on the judicial side, the
\nwidely-recognized corruption, the costs of doing business as a
\nresult of those kinds of things, and also security
\nproblems that exist in various parts. ... There are certainly
\ngreat parts of Indonesia that are quite secure, but in some
\nplaces like Aceh, Papua and the Maluku, there are concerns.
\nAlso ... we'd just like to see some progress and further
\nstabilization, before (American business people) come back in.<\/p>\n
What changes do you want to see in Indonesia?<\/p>\n
The same changes that most Indonesians would like to see:
\nFurther development and strengthening of the democratic political
\nsystem and the actual strengthening of the court system. And the
\ngradual -- I say gradual because I just don't think it's
\nrealistic to think that corruption is going to be wiped out
\ntomorrow -- eradication of corruption is certainly very high on
\nthe list.<\/p>\n
But there is another issue which Indonesians themselves
\nrecognize: The decentralization process, which is highly
\ncommendable and necessary, and which USINDO has done a fair
\namount to broadcast here. That needs to be sorted out, and that's
\ngoing to take time.<\/p>\n
The election process in 2004 and beyond is in the process of
\nbeing strengthened, but continuing work on that is necessary.<\/p>\n
Continuing reform of the military, continuing effort to turn
\ninternal domestic security responsibility to the police that are
\ncapable. At the present time, the police are not. I think they
\nwould say themselves not really fully capable.<\/p>\n
But there are all kinds of things that have to be done to
\nestablish a democracy.<\/p>\n
Having said all that, I would go back to my original statement
\nthat I think Indonesia has done remarkably well, has come
\nremarkably far, much further than, I think, is recognized in
\nestablishing democratic institutions. It's encouraging, but
\nthere's a lot still to do.<\/p>\n
What can USINDO do to help?<\/p>\n
Don't underestimate the importance of the power of
\ninformation, transparency in the democracy. They are absolutely
\nessential. These are things that the USINDO is trying to provide:
\nTransparency and openness. What are the real issues in Indonesia,
\nand try to explain them to Americans that they have a better
\nunderstanding and therefore can provide a better advice or more
\nkind of well targeted assistance to help.<\/p>\n
Understanding and wisdom are the first steps to really running
\nand operating an effective democracy.<\/p>",
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