Back on speaking terms in Jakarta

Back on speaking terms in Jakarta

As a devotee of cricket, Prime Minister John Howard can
appreciate the virtues of playing with a straight bat. He applied
the principle to diplomacy in Indonesia this week and, in the
face of a hostile attack on a sticky wicket, the technique served
him well.

It served the interests of improving relations between
Australia and Indonesia, to the extent of formulating what could
be a basis for a regional response to terrorism. Conscious of
Indonesian accusations of indulging in "megaphone diplomacy", Mr
Howard did not let a series of diplomatic snubs distract him from
meeting President Megawati Soekarnoputri. MPs of all parties in
the parliament united against Mr Howard's visit. Six months ago,
in the heat of a diplomatic tit for tat over boatloads of asylum
seekers, Mrs Megawati had refused to take his phone calls. This
week ... when the leaders emerged from the presidential palace,
they spoke in accord of their desire for a "realistic" and
"rational" relationship.

They have already gone beyond words to action. Australia has
announced it will provide five patrol boats to help Indonesia
control people-smuggling. Mr Howard also said he hoped to sign an
Indonesian-proposed memorandum of understanding to counter
terrorism. Mr Howard ... deserves credit for what has already
been achieved by his visit.

That is particularly so when one considers the diplomatic
indignities to which he was subjected in Jakarta. Mr Howard
sensibly dismissed these as a case of politicians playing to
their domestic gallery ... but underlying their actions is deep
resentment over Australia's attitude to boat people and East
Timor, which only time will diminish. Progress is being made at
the highest level to develop a long-overdue, coordinated approach
to asylum seekers.

As for East Timor, it is Indonesia that must come to terms
with what are now the facts of history. Mr Howard need make no
apologies. Mr Howard was right to reject accusations of meddling
in the push for independence in the province of Papua. Clearly,
injured sensitivities remain raw in Jakarta, perhaps motivating
some of the wilder accusations against Mr Howard. Like a good
batsman, he let them go. Negotiating the continuing differences
between Indonesia and Australia will not be easy, but the senior
partners in the relationship have made an encouraging start.

-- The Age, Melbourne