Alatas tells U.S. aid and rights just don't mix
NEW YORK (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas warned the United States against attaching political strings to its foreign aid programs yesterday, suggesting that doing so could make the problem worse.
"Imposing human rights as a political condition for economic cooperation with developing countries is wholly counterproductive to both the promotion of human rights and the pursuit of development," Alatas said on Wednesday before more than 200 business, academic and government leaders attending an Asia Society conference here.
"If people-oriented development is successful, then the people's quality of life will be enhanced," he said in a keynote address to the conference on "Indonesia, the United States and the World Today".
"This means not only the fulfillment of their material needs, but also a greater and more secure enjoyment of all their human rights," he said.
Indonesia and the United States have been at odds on the questions of human rights, labor rights and democracy, particularly over the past year.
Washington last year threatened to end Indonesia's special trading privileges granted under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), blocked a planned sale of U.S.-built jetfighters by Jordan to Indonesia, and also slashed military training aid for Indonesian officers.
Officials in both capitals however have since managed to put these problems in perspective and worked on forging closer ties, especially in the business sector, despite these differences.
This factor was acknowledged by Alatas when he asserted in his speech that relations are "perhaps as solid and as broadly gauged as they have ever been."
The United States and Indonesia have much to gain from knowing each other better and learning from each other, he said.
"But more than that, what we can do for each other as well as what we can do together could serve as an example for that vital partnership between the developed and developing countries, between the North and the South, which will be needed if we are effectively to address the global challenges humankind is facing today," he said.
Alatas pointed out that more than half of total U.S. world trade is with the Pacific region and that more than 1.5 million U.S. jobs now depend on exports to Asia and the Pacific.
Indonesia ranks as a major destination for American cotton, chemicals, aircraft parts, and other industrial goods.
US$8.5 billion
Two-way trade between Indonesia and the U.S. totals US$8.5 billion each year , and America's direct investment since 1967 adds up to more than $3.8 billion.
"While this economic relationship has positive benefits for both countries, failure to preserve it could be as severe as some of the traditional military challenges the United States is facing," the minister said.
The conference, which will end today, was sponsored by the Asia Society, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta, the United States-Indonesia Society, and the American-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.
Other speakers include Paul Wolfowitz, a former U.S. ambassador to Indonesia and Sidney Jones of Asia Watch, CSIS chairman Yusuf Wanandi, William Liddle of Ohio State University and Donald Emmerson, political science professor at the University of Wisconsin.
The conference is part of a year-long public education project organized by the Asia Society. It took "Uncovering Indonesia: Insights for the 1990s." as its theme. The purpose of the project is to provide a deeper understanding of contemporary Indonesia and of U.S.- Indonesian relations.
Book
The Asia Society is also planning to publish a multi-author volume exploring Indonesian politics, economy and culture. The book, due out in 1995, will be edited by Donald Emmerson.
The conference was slightly disrupted by 10 demonstrators carrying posters denouncing Indonesia's policy in East Timor outside the Asia Society building on Park Avenue, prior to the opening reception.
Alatas told the press after opening the conference that the United States needs to see Indonesia as a whole, not just one of its many facets.
"The U.S. should consider the totality of our relationship to avoid being carried away by a certain minority which only sees Indonesia as East Timor or human rights," Alatas said.
He noted that despite the long and good bilateral relationship between Indonesia and the U.S., there remains a gap in mutual understanding, particularly on the U.S. side.
"We need to fill this gap, otherwise both will suffer. The U.S. will suffer because it will miss a chance for very beneficial cooperation," said Alatas as quoted by Antara. (lem)