Australian concerns

Australian concerns

Australian public concern over the question of succession in
the Indonesian national leadership prompted a number of
Australian media representatives to pay a visit to President
Soeharto last week.

It is easy to conceive the relief which everyone felt on
hearing Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono explain that President
Soeharto never made any attempt to get himself reelected.

"This comes like a refreshing breeze. This is an assurance
directed at the people because there have been speculations that
President Soeharto wanted to continue being President. I believe
President Soeharto is a true statesman," commented Hamzah Haz, of
the United Development Party.

In past interviews with high ranking state officials, the
answer was always that it was "unethical", or "premature" to
discuss the question (of succession) because President Soeharto
was still very healthy and capable of taking office.

The Australian public's concerns are another matter. When we
talk about succession, we do it without harboring any ambitions
in our minds. For Australians on the other hand, Indonesia, with
its close-to 200 million people and strategic location in
Southeast Asia, constitutes a puzzling enigma.

What, for example, if in the post-Soeharto period instability
should arise and become a threat to Australia? What if -- as is
the case in several African countries -- disturbances and
protracted unrest should occur?

In such a case, Australia, and particularly Singapore, would
go through many sleepless nights. This is the reason why the
Australian editors visited Indonesia and, perhaps, will visit
Indonesia many more times in the future to talk about the matter.

-- Merdeka, Jakarta