Australia's diluted support

You may have woken up to the reality that for the last nine weeks or so, Australia has been rocked by a robust debate on racism. It was sparked by the maiden speech of an independent member of parliament, one Ms. Pauline Hanson, the member for the constituency of Oxley. Among other things, Ms. Hanson advocated the end of immigration by Asians and special assistance for Australia's indigenous population, the Aborigines, who tragically continue to be the most disadvantaged group in Australia.

Far from admonishing Ms. Hanson, the Prime Minister, Mr. John Howard, himself the center of the last anti-Asian wave in Australia in the late 1980s, had actually licensed and encouraged her by upholding her comments as an example of the newly found freedom of expression in this country, an achievement he viewed was made possibly by his recent election as prime minister. The debate once again refocuses regional attention on Australia's Asian credentials.

Indonesia, for one, should be questioning and reassessing whether and to what degree Australia has been a friend. Australia's ambivalence on East Timor comes foremost to mind for reevaluation.

Last month, following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to East Timor's Bishop Carlos Belo and Australia-based Fretilin leader Jose Ramos Horta, the Australian Senate, which is the upper chamber of the Australian national parliament, unanimously passed a motion supporting the campaign for East Timor's independence. It is significant that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs had advised the government not to oppose the motion. This prompts the question: How friendly are Australia's representatives in Jakarta? As the motion called on the Australian government to support East Timor's independence, a further question must be asked: "What actions will Australia be taking to implement this most recent shift in its East Timor policy?

Australia's now increasingly inimical attitude towards Indonesia is inconsistent with recent favors Indonesia had been according its southern neighbor. During the time Gareth Evans was foreign minister, his prominence and prestige in world affairs had been achieved piggy-backed on Indonesian support and kindness. An incomplete list of those favors would look something like this: * Co-sponsored Australian Cambodian Peace Plan (we remembered Dr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja when he was foreign minister. He never gave Australia a look-in, let alone came up with a plan for the problem). * Supported Australian APEC initiatives (at the expense of harming relationship with Malaysia). * Agreed to the extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the UN. * Agreed to the visit of Australia's governor general as a visit by a head of state. * Agreed to the Timor Gap Treaty (when Dr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja would not have allowed it, on the strength of Indonesia's claim to its sea boundaries). * Agreed to the setting up of the Djaelani investigation. * Agreed to the reduction of Indonesian troops in East Timor. * Visit of Australian parliamentarians to East Timor.

As Australia continues to dilute its support for Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor and is getting away with it, we can only wonder at the continuing failure of Indonesia's diplomacy.

RIYADI IDRUS

Woden, Australia