Southwest Pacific dialog: New pond for regional cooperation<\/p>\n
Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly',
\nCenter for Strategic and International Studies, bandoro@csis.or.id<\/p>\n
In Singapore in 2000, then president Abdurrahman Wahid caught
\npeople by surprise with the proposal to set up the Southwest
\nPacific Dialog Forum (SwPD). The idea was not welcomed by certain
\nsectors here, arguing among other things that the idea overlapped
\nwith other regional cooperation forums. But the Yogyakarta
\nmeeting on Oct. 5 of six foreign ministers from Indonesia,
\nAustralia, East Timor, New Zealand, the Philippines and Papua New
\nGuinea have turned down such arguments. It took almost two years
\nbefore the Yogyakarta meeting approved the Forum's establishment.<\/p>\n
Now there is another wave of multilateralism and pluralism in
\nthe region. Cooperation is still important despite changes in
\nregional international relations.<\/p>\n
Reflecting the need for an expanded regional cooperation, the
\nSwPD will serve the following purposes: To provide stability,
\nprosperity and security of participating countries; to strengthen
\nand expand their bilateral relations; to provide modalities for
\nparticipants in facing more severe global competition; to foster
\nthe once unthinkable kind of interactions and relationship
\nbetween participating countries; and to provide a venue for an
\nexpanding regional political and security agenda.<\/p>\n
Indeed many problems exist beyond our territorial borders, or
\neven the region, leading to the need for collaboration. This is
\nexactly what the SwPD has done. The approval by the Yogyakarta
\nmeeting has given the participating countries another prospective
\nforum for promoting their national and international interests.<\/p>\n
Having originated from Indonesia, perhaps the concept will be
\nseen here more as an instrument to help promote Indonesia's
\ndomestic as well as external interests. Many, including Foreign
\nMinister Hassan Wirayuda, have continuously stressed the
\nimportance of our territorial integrity and national unity, and
\nit is through such a forum that support for our territorial
\nintegrity would be gained.<\/p>\n
Multilateral forums have always been used to expand bilateral
\ncontacts and promote national interests. But some SwPD members
\nonce had serious problems and bitter experiences with Indonesia,
\nas was the case with the establishment of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) where some of its members used to
\nhave problems with Indonesia too.<\/p>\n
The Southwest Pacific dialog will perhaps neutralize future
\nproblems, but it will not in itself erase remnants of past
\nproblems. Stability of regional Pacific cooperation might thus be
\nconvulsed by unfinished problems, especially those associated
\nwith Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Moreover, this forum would further expose Indonesia's domestic
\nweaknesses unless it is able to demonstrate its ability and
\nsincerity in handling, for example, domestic insurgency through a
\ncarrot approach.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, it is the issue of separatists that the SwPD will
\nconstantly watch, which might draw the forum into uncooperative
\ngestures toward Indonesia if the latter's policy on the issue
\ntouches on the sensitivity of other member countries.<\/p>\n
Thus, an extra cautious approach toward the forum is needed if
\nIndonesia is to gain sympathy and respect and to avoid such
\nissues becoming a ball game.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's diplomacy toward the Forum will be tested against
\nthe forum's responses towards the way our domestic problems are
\nhandled. Indonesia attempts to seek support from SwPD for its
\nintegrity and other national and regional interests will be
\neffective only if Indonesia does and shows the following.<\/p>\n
First, Indonesia must be able to maintain stable bilateral and
\ntrilateral relations with members of the Forum, a relation which
\nis not contaminated by feelings of past hatred. Second, Indonesia
\nmust manage separatist movements in such a way that would not
\nviolate human rights.<\/p>\n
Third, because cooperation in the SwPD is quite different from
\nthat of ASEAN, Indonesia must introduce a new concept of
\neconomic, political and security cooperation to enhance the
\nForum's credibility.<\/p>\n
The framework may be one that might neutralize and deter
\nwhatever problems that may rise.<\/p>\n
Four, Indonesia should initiate a fresh approach to solve the
\nterritorial disputes between Indonesia and other SwPD members.
\nThis is important if SwPD is to be freed from unexpected
\nturbulence and if Indonesia is to be respected by SwPD.<\/p>\n
Five, Indonesia should also initiate a double-edged diplomacy:
\nCurrent and future policy and diplomacy towards the region must
\nwin the hearts of other members of our domestic foreign policy
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
Last, because cooperation within the forum will not only focus
\non economic and political security matters, but also cultural and
\nsocial aspects, an exchange of experiences in the latter is
\nnecessary. Indonesia could take the lead as this would
\nneutralize, if not eliminate, other political problems.<\/p>\n
Now, will participating countries have the time, resources and
\nenergy to translate their policies into regional projects, given
\nthat most are still fighting to get out of the domestic crises?<\/p>\n
One critical issue on the forum's agenda may be transnational
\ncrimes. Studies show that some of the forum members are used by
\ntransnational criminals. Recent experiences in handling related
\ntransnational crimes such as people smuggling has led to
\nfrictions in bilateral relations. This would mean that the SwPD
\nshould constantly watch this issue for example by establishing a
\nsort of regional monitoring mechanism. Indonesia, as a
\ndestination of such crimes, could take the initiative in building
\na regional network that would serve as some sort of line of
\ndefense against possible criminal activities.<\/p>\n
Now that Indonesia has added SwPD into the list of its Asia
\nPacific diplomatic front, in addition to ASEAN and the Asia
\nPacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), Indonesia should base
\nits regional diplomacy on rational considerations and in line
\nwith the particular geopolitical interests of the participating
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Our diplomacy in the Southwest Pacific region should not be
\npursued at the expense of its interest in ASEAN. Thus, the
\nsuccess in our diplomacy toward SwPD will be whether we can
\nbalance this diplomacy. Its success will also rely, among others,
\non the type of measures Indonesia will initiate to enhance the
\nconfidence of other participating countries. After all, SwPD is a
\nconfidence building-type measure.<\/p>",
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