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