Brouwer enjoys historic Dutch-RI ties

Brouwer enjoys historic Dutch-RI ties

By Meidyatama Suryadiningrat

JAKARTA (JP): As Indonesia celebrates its golden anniversary
and progresses towards the next millennium, one cannot escape the
fact that the Netherlands is embedded in the nation's history.

Tales of past imperialism aside, the historical bondage
between the two-nations has forged a strong foundation on which
both sides have built their relationship.

However, neglecting to cultivate these roots will lead to
complacency and cause deterioration and eventually friction.

New Dutch ambassador Paul Ritze Brouwer seemed to presage
this danger and asserted a desire to build on tomorrow without
the baggage of yesterday's often fragile past.

"You can base yourself on the past but you have to work upon
today and the future," Brouwer said of the strong ties built upon
Indonesian and the Netherlands' history.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post Brouwer indicated his
desire to harness the past relationship by molding the future.

"It is something that both sides have to work upon," he
remarked.

Brouwer handed his credentials to President Soeharto on Dec.
27, 1994 to officially take charge of the Netherlands' biggest
embassy. He replaced J.H.R.D. Van Roijen.

A career diplomat, Brouwer has served his country in Japan,
Bangladesh, England, France and Belgium. His was also posted as
ambassador to the West African state of Burkina Faso from 1986 to
1989.

Reflecting on the state of relations of his newest posting,
Brouwer acknowledged that because of history there was a quaint
familiarity that the peoples of both countries viewed each other.

"Yes, I have met many Indonesians for whom the Netherlands
means something," Brouwer replied when asked if he sensed that
people here regarded him, as the Dutch ambassador, in a more
intimate way.

However he was quick to point out that "such things will not
continue automatically, we must be very careful not to be
complacent about it."

Brouwer may count himself fortunate to arrive in Indonesia at
a time when relations with the Netherlands are probably at their
best since a very low mood in 1992.

Amiable ties broke down that year when Jakarta rejected Dutch
aid taking exception to the perceived intrusion of The Hague into
what Indonesia considers its domestic affairs.

The Dutch led Inter Governmental Group on Indonesia was
dissolved and Jakarta further slighted The Hague by forming a new
aid group, the Consultative Group on Indonesia, which excluded
Dutch participation.

Nonetheless the lessons from that episode have apparently
been be learnt and relations have blossomed since.

Testimony to this was that neither President Soeharto nor
Brouwer in their exchange of speeches at Merdeka Palace last
month even hinted on the events of 1992.

Brouwer said that despite the common bridge of history the
construction of Dutch-Indonesia links should not be done with any
less vigor than it would between two-nations that don't have a
common footing.

"I think that one should never be satisfied with an existing
situation," he said. "So our relationship today is based upon the
modern Indonesia and the modern Netherlands."

People

In an age where economic and business ties seem to dominate
state relations, Brouwer went to lengths to stress the need for
people to people contacts.

Despite not failing to mention his desire to boost areas of
trade and investment, the ambassador seemed to show keen interest
in developing the human aspect of state relations between the two
nations.

"Our societies interact in almost every way," he said and
underlined his wish to put "a lot of emphasis in that aspect of
the relations."

Ambassador Brouwer took great joy in describing how endeavors
such as the Dutch cultural center, Erasmus Huis, had found a
place in society here and advocates similar efforts to forge
closer ties.

"There is a very wide basis for cooperation almost in every
field," he said.

Though admitting that before arriving here his knowledge of
Indonesia was that of an average Dutch person, Brouwer says that
many of his perceptions that such links can be stimulated have
been justly proven.

"When I came here I found a confirmation of that perception,"
he claimed.

Apart from honing cooperation among peoples, Brouwer also
noted the significance of current relations.

"This is a very important year...most important of all is the
fact that the Netherlands queen, Queen Beatrice, intends to come
to Indonesia."

He would not reveal when that visit would occur saying only
that it would be "later in the year."

Also , in March 1995, the Netherlands cultural center, the
Erasmus Huis, will celebrate its silver jubilee. Brouwer
emphasized the important role the Erasmus Huis plays i the
cultural relations between the two countries.

Family

One cannot escape the importance he gives family in his life.

Arriving in Jakarta with his wife and two daughters, Brouwer
says his first priority was to settle-in with his family.

He explains how it was a new experience for his wife to live
here especially since it was her first time living in a new
country.

He also said he wanted his children, nine-year-old Sara and
six-year-old Beatrys, to have a normal life as soon as possible.

Making our house a home and giving the children a place of
their own, he says. Brouwer's explained that moving to a new
country was toughest for the children especially for Beatrys.

He of course mentioned the traffic situation in Jakarta and
how difficult it was for the children since they had to commute a
fair distance from the residence at Jl. Diponegoro to the Dutch
school in Cilandak.

Asked how he himself was coping with the congested streets,
Brouwer said that the situation could not be helped and quipped
that the ride from his residence to the embassy in Kuningan was
not too far "if the car flies."

To escape the stress of commuting, Brouwer revealed his joy of
tennis and a very unique but dear interest in glass. "I collect
glass and am very much interested in glass making."

As a law graduate of Leiden University, Brouwer says he will
also try to organize an alumnus reunion.

"I hear with great pleasure that there are many people here
who studied at Leiden University," he said cheerfully.

By doing so, ambassador Brouwer may have stumbled upon another
way of enhancing Dutch-Indonesia relations.