A distant country

A glance at a map of the world might tell us that Australia's umbilical cord is too short for many Australians to feel European. On the other hand this southern land or terra australis which is in Asia, seems, from time to time, to distance itself from Asia. Quo vadis Australia?

In Asia there is a good deal of confusion about whether Australia is really part of the Asia-Pacific region and Australia itself is in a state of ambivalence about it. While the country seems to be constantly trying to define its future, another ambiguous signal comes from the Australian communication minister's plan to shut down Radio Australia.

I know what many Indonesians think about this "financial" plan and it would be interesting to know what the large Australian community in Indonesia has to say. It is ironic that in this era of globalization Australia has detached itself from programs other countries give importance to. ABC television services reach very few people in Indonesia as the rare sightings of parabolas (apart from Jakarta) testify, while Radio Australia has millions of listeners in this country.

In the 1980s Radio Australia was my best companion in the mountains of Irian Jaya. Radio Australia has helped bridge cultures and sell Australian butter. Radio remains a valid tool of information. If Australia doesn't inform, other countries will. Once the ABC has ceased operating in the Asia-Pacific region, there will still be at least 11 other countries broadcasting in Indonesian, 15 in Chinese and 16 in Japanese.

As for radio services in English, Indonesians will still have access to 15 European stations, 20 regional ones and at least 14 others from around the world.

I would not expect these countries to promote Australian interest in the region.

ALBERTO AICHINO

Jakarta