We need to improve Indonesian's tainted image<\/p>\n
M. Ali, MBA Student Nottingham University, United Kingdom<\/p>\n
In the world of economics and investment, very much depends on
\nperception. If people perceive good prospects, they invest. If
\nthey see risks, they avoid investing. For us, the perception of
\nIndonesia in the West right now is not good. This is unfortunate
\nbecause there cannot really be any doubt that Indonesia needs and
\nwill continue to need foreign investment to begin to turn around
\nfrom our current economic problems.<\/p>\n
It is sad that the image of Indonesia is bad in the West and
\nprobably around the whole world but this is the truth that we all
\nmust face and we all must try to overcome. Over the past months
\nand the past few years, all media coverage of and from Indonesia
\nhas had a very negative affect. Even if some commentators have
\nbeen able to think positively in describing Indonesia's problems
\nas the \"natural consequences of being a democracy in its
\ninfancy\", the general perception of the country still remains
\nnegative.<\/p>\n
These negative perceptions carry with them the impression of
\nrisk. There is a genuine concern in European nations that
\nIndonesia is a nation that is on the brink of civil war in which
\nthe hazards for investors are simply too great. What is feeding
\nthis impression and creating the idea of civil war is that media
\ncoverage -- which quickly (and almost happily) covers conflicts
\nand violence. And so, when the media cover clashes between
\ndifferent religious groupings of the likes of Ambon or the ethnic
\ninfighting in Kalimantan, it is easy for Western journalists and
\ncorrespondents to equate Indonesia's condition to that of a
\nnation at war with itself.<\/p>\n
People in Europe will and do believe in the images that they
\nsee on their television screens. They will believe the gossip and
\nrumors that are easily created and circulated about Indonesia.
\nAnd Indonesia must work hard to counter these malicious rumors.
\nExtreme positions are not unusual when it comes to these rumors
\nand often they end up being far removed from truth and reality.<\/p>\n
Take the example of the rumor that Indonesia was close to war
\nwith Australia at the time of East Timor's vote for independence.
\nThe word spread and spread until a respected and reputable London
\nnewspaper reported that Australia had plans to send bomber
\naircraft to drop bombs on Jakarta. People reading this news in
\nEurope, which cited \"top level\" sources, almost inevitably sided
\nwith the Australian position and formed the assumption that
\nIndonesia must be the culprit and must be to blame for such
\n\"heightened tensions\".<\/p>\n
Often in Europe, Indonesia is depicted as a violent and
\nextreme country, one that lacks tolerance and peace. Westerners
\noften do not understand the multicultural and multiethnic
\ncomplexity and only really seem to hear of Indonesia when there
\nare violent clashes between different ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
A very ugly term has come to be associated with Indonesia, a
\nterm that was, in fact, first created and witnessed in Europe.
\nPeople now associate Indonesia with \"ethnic cleansing\" because of
\nthe ethnic clashes that they see.<\/p>\n
The huge scale and amazing ethnic and cultural diversity of
\nIndonesia is not properly appreciated or understood, leading to
\nfalse perceptions. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, references to
\nIndonesia have been \"the largest Muslim country in the world\".<\/p>\n
Newspapers and television reporters use this title and then go
\non to talk of \"militant Muslims\" who are planning anti-American
\nactions and are preparing people to participate in \"a holy war to
\ndefend Islam\".<\/p>\n
By linking these two notions (a large Muslim nation and
\nextreme positions), people in Europe are getting the impression
\nthat Indonesia is a potential danger and a threat. \"Masses of
\nfanatical Muslims\" is the impression that people are getting
\nrather than a quite liberal and tolerant nation.<\/p>\n
In Europe, people will not see that the vast majority of
\nIndonesians are not longing for attacks on America or American
\ninterests. They will only see the headline-grabbing demonstrators
\nor those that unlawfully disturb the peace.<\/p>\n
As a nation of predominantly Muslim people, we must show the
\nworld that we are tolerant and not a threat. We must point to the
\nfact that our President is a woman and show that this is an
\nexample of tolerance and forward thinking. In the extreme world
\nof the Taliban a woman can barely get an education, so the idea
\nthat a woman can lead a nation is practically obscene to them. We
\nmust show that we are a nation of tolerance, of diversity.<\/p>\n
It is true that we have flashpoints, but so do other nations.
\nBritain has Northern Ireland, Spain has Basque separatists, Italy
\nhas Mafia-organized crime and so on.<\/p>\n
Europe is a small continent and Indonesia is a huge country.
\nPeople here would not accept Europe's shared blame for the
\n\"ethnic cleansing\" in Bosnia but they condemn people in Jakarta
\nfor what happens in distant islands such as Ambon, though the
\ngeographical distance between these places is about the same.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a very big country that is difficult to govern
\nand control, but the world should be shown that as a nation we
\nare, in the vast majority, united.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a country of richness in cultures, diversity,
\nheritage, natural resources, human resources and possibilities.
\nIt is these wonderful things that the world needs to be shown and
\nled to understand and appreciate. The potential is great and
\ninvestors all over the world should be encouraged to participate
\nin our growth. The image does not have to be all bad and, for the
\nbenefit of all, we should all work to promote and improve the
\nIndonesian image.<\/p>",
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