Views, action in Australia-RI ties<\/p>\n
Mark Otter, School of Political Science and International Studies,
\nThe University of Queensland, Brisbane<\/p>\n
Much has been written in the two weeks since the Oct. 12
\ntragedy in Bali about the impact of the incident on the
\ncontemporary histories of Indonesia and Australia -- how each
\ncountry responds to international terrorism, what it means for
\ndomestic politics in each country and whether it will be the
\nbreakthrough needed to improve bilateral relations.<\/p>\n
What has been missing so far is consideration of the role that
\npublic opinion plays in the relationship between the two
\ncountries and an underlining of the fact that, in the end, the
\nmost important relationship is a people-to-people relationship.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that government-to-government relations
\nbetween Australia and Indonesia have had their difficulties over
\nthe years. They have also their strengths. The Australian
\ngovernment was very supportive of Indonesia's declaration of
\nindependence in 1945 and acted on Indonesia's behalf in the
\nnegotiations in the United Nations which led to international
\nrecognition of independence in 1949. Australian public opinion
\nwas strongly supportive of Indonesian independence.<\/p>\n
The Australian government was largely critical of Sukarno's
\nnon-aligned approach of the 1950s, interpreting it as anti-West.
\nPublic opinion was somewhat divided but largely supportive of the
\ngovernment's position -- it was, after all, during the Cold War
\nand Australia was firmly in the Western camp.<\/p>\n
Official Australian support for the stability and economic
\ngrowth provided by Soeharto's New Order regime was strong.
\nAustralia sought Indonesia's endorsement for its new-found
\nregional identity and support for its political and trade
\nengagement with Asia. Australian public opinion, however, was
\ncritical of the human rights abuses committed in the name of
\npolitical stability.<\/p>\n
In 1976, the Australian government provided de-facto
\nrecognition of Indonesia's incorporation of East Timor -- in
\nstark contrast to fierce public opposition in Australia. Public
\ncriticism continued for almost 23 years until the government
\neventually responded -- to the detriment of official relations.<\/p>\n
There are similar comparisons between government policy and
\npublic opinion in Australia on global issues. In the aftermath of
\nthe terrorist attacks on the U.S. in September 2001, there was
\nsome public debate in Australia about whether the government
\nshould respond to a US request to join its coalition in the so-
\ncalled \"war against terror\". In the end, opinion was largely
\nsupportive.<\/p>\n
But there is a much more heated public debate currently about
\nwhether Australia should join the U.S. in a war against Iraq. In
\nrecent weeks, an open letter to the Australian Prime Minister has
\nbeen written by three former prime ministers, a number of former
\nChiefs of the Australian Defense Force and other prominent
\nfigures calling for no Australian involvement in a war against
\nIraq in the absence of UN Security Council endorsement. There are
\nlimits to the U.S. alliance, they argued.<\/p>\n
In Melbourne recently (pointedly, on the morning after the
\nBali bombing), there was a mass demonstration by 30,000 people
\n(large by Australian standards) opposing an Iraqi war.<\/p>\n
Bali, which has a special place of peace and tranquility in
\nthe hearts of Indonesians, has also been adopted as a second home
\nto many Australians. It is as familiar and comfortable to
\nAustralians as it is exotic. For thousands of young Australians
\n-- those most affected by the tragedy -- it has provided their
\nfirst overseas experience and their first contact with a culture
\nother than their own.<\/p>\n
Ordinary Australians are hurting over what happened in Bali as
\nare ordinary Indonesians. This shared grief underscores what is
\nreally important in relations between our two countries -- the
\nhuman dimension.<\/p>\n
Geography and history have conspired to place Indonesia and
\nAustralia as neighbors. Only human contact and a sense of shared
\ndestiny will break down barriers and dispel apathy, ignorance and
\ndistrust. We don't have to agree with each other, but we do have
\nto learn and understand about each other. The more human contact
\nthe better -- whether it be tourists, business people, students,
\nacademics and, yes, even government officials.<\/p>\n
The writer is also a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for
\nStrategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta.<\/p>",
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