A chance for International respect

A chance for International respect
JP/3/WIMAR (INSIGHT)

A chance for International respect

Wimar Witoelar
Jakarta

They say political discontent comes from raised expectations.
That was the case with the raised expectations arising out of the
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono campaign, and it could become the case
now as the government promises coordinated action in Aceh. For
almost a week, we have been titillated by Cabinet ministers, up
to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, talk about a new agency that will
manage the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh. This is
good news in the context of concerns that Aceh might fall victim
to corruption, miscoordination and factionalism.

However, the agency is still little more than news gossip.
Plans to start rebuilding in Aceh are at a standstill. The delay
has given space to the naysayers who jump at the chance to
discredit the government's newly improved relations with donor
countries. The issue is fast becoming a target for the latest
game of political football. Self-professed experts on Aceh
emphatically question the appointment of a non-Acehnese to the
position. "Why a Jakartan?"

It is just a matter of time before more catchy issues are
paraded out by fringe groups. "Why accept foreign aid? They will
just use it to dominate us." These attitudes are irrational, but
they are out there. More worrying are suspicions that foreigners
are dictating the strategy, operations and public communications
in Aceh. There is enthusiasm to award work contracts, but no
instinct to start by making the public understand the need for
international assistance.

The government and the international donors do not understand
that the public is extremely wary of the role of foreigners in
Aceh's recovery. More time is spent in back rooms than out in the
open enlightening centers of public opinion and mobilizing their
support.

The Nias earthquake followed the Aceh tragedy -- a smaller but
equally painful human tragedy. These tragedies shock us into
disbelief and humility, but not into despair. The response from
our fellow human beings has been tremendously inspiring. We are
united by the tragedy. The whole planet is watching Aceh. They
are seeing victims of nature. The last time the world looked at
us they saw East Timor, and they saw victims of atrocities. The
difference is telling in Australia. East Timor was the lowest
point in Australian respect for Indonesia. Aceh represents the
highest point of Australian sympathy for Indonesia.

The challenge is to strengthen the bonds that unite us in the
Aceh and Nias tragedies. Opportunities beckon but the dangers are
very real. International assistance pledged for Aceh has reached
historical highs, running at about US$4 billion.

Let us not dwell on the negative possibilities. If the funds
are properly used they will stimulate a multiplier effect. Most
directly, this will be felt in the economic sphere. Sound
planning of infrastructure, social services, economic centers and
networks will reform Aceh into a special province living up to
its natural and human potentials.

There will be an even more significant bonus from a successful
Aceh recovery program. As the world watches, Indonesia will have
a chance to gain respect. The image of Indonesia as a corrupt
nation will be dispelled if a professional rehabilitation and
reconstruction team established by the government highlights
Indonesian competence and compassion. In addition, the people of
Indonesia will see the positive side of international engagement.
The point will be made that xenophobia is totally irrational and
antisocial. There are good foreigners and there are bad
foreigners, just as there are good Indonesians and bad
Indonesians.

We recently endured a short spate involving the bashing of the
World Bank, multinationals companies, international consultants,
and others besides. The hostility is based on irrational
attitudes, but there are underlying legitimate concerns. The most
basic concern is simple. The people want respect. There is the
impression that international experts do not engage with local
talent even when the "three-day experts" are hopelessly ignorant
about Indonesia. Or they work with locals who are dependent on
foreign patronage.

The outcome is that the ignorance of some foreigners is
perceived as arrogance. On the other hand, many foreigners see
Indonesians as corrupt and unproductive. It is now critical to
dispel these stereotypes. We have a window of opportunity for a
rebirth of our international relations. The only way to keep the
window open is through effective communications.

All experts know the theory. Know your audience, define the
issues, set strategic goals. That is difficult enough, but only
part of it. Communication is about winning hearts and minds. All
the experts in the world will be counterproductive in the Aceh
issue if they see themselves as experts and do not try to win
Indonesian hearts and minds. We are not talking about maudlin
sentiments here but rather compassion, respect and a sense of
historical perspective. You cannot be arrogant and manage to win
people's hearts. Empathy is the key word and the only word in
effective communications.

We are now expecting solid names to take charge in Aceh, but
it is anybody's guess who will finally be announced, and with
whom they will work. It would be disappointing, but not
inconsistent with past experience, for the appointments to be
determined by expediency, not by expertise.

As Indonesia faces a political watershed of historic
proportions, the President seems to be faltering again. When the
President falters, all the President's men also stand still. Good
people poised to take charge of problems are silent as they tread
water in administrative and logistical minutiae. Games and
intrigue kill time as the post-tsunami opportunities dissipate.

The writer is chairman of InterMatrix Communications. He can
be reached at wimarwitoelar@gmail.com