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.