Can Australia sever ties with Indonesia?

By Aleksius Jemadu

BANDUNG (JP): Australia's foreign policy toward Indonesia can be at best described as full of paradoxes. On one hand, Australian leaders regard Indonesia as one of its most important Asian neighbors, but on the other hand such appreciation can easily be shattered by contingent policy imperatives.

For example, in the mid-1970s, together with the United States, Australia tacitly endorsed the Indonesian Military's invasion of East Timor.

But following the recent violence in East Timor after the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot there, it was Australia which led other Western countries in bombarding Indonesia with condemnation and threats.

By playing a prominent role in the establishment and leadership of the United Nations multinational peacekeeping force, Australia seems to be embarrassing its closest neighbor in Southeast Asia.

Does this mean Australia wants to forsake its long-term good relationship with Indonesia?

Most, if not all, Asian leaders still perceive Australia as part of the Western world. For example, with its idea for an East-Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) within the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Malaysia is insisting that economic cooperation in East Asia should only include Asian countries, thus excluding North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Moreover, as far as post-Cold War issues such as human rights, democratization and environmental degradation are concerned, like many other Western countries Australia tends to be cynical about the performance of its Asian neighbors.

There seems to be a contradiction between Australia's intention to strengthen cooperation with its Asian neighbors and the actions and statements of its leaders, which only entrench its Eurocentric perspective.

It is no exaggeration to suggest that economically, Australia has become an integral part of the Asia-Pacific region.

By the mid-1990s, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asian countries purchased over 70 percent of Australia's total exports.

Obviously, Indonesia has a strategic position because it is a link between Australia and its major trading partners.

Also, as a major power respected by other ASEAN countries, Indonesia plays a crucial role in determining stability in the region.

Compared to other industrialized countries, Australia is in the best position to take advantage of investment and market opportunities in Indonesia, particularly after Indonesia loosens regulations which restrict foreign investors.

In truth, both the government and the people of Indonesia feel humiliated and betrayed by Australia. The widespread opposition to the participation of Australian troops in the UN multinational peacekeeping force in East Timor came as no surprise.

There is a fear that the prointegration militias will target Australian troops, thus drawing Australia into a conflict much more complicated than it ever expected. The possibility of an open conflict with Indonesia cannot be ruled out, particularly if prointegration militias launch attack from the western half of the island of Timor.

The Indonesian Military tends to be very suspicious about Australia's motivation in East Timor.

Why would Australia run the risk of damaging its carefully constructed ties with Indonesia? Is it only for humanitarian concerns or to raise the popularity of Prime Minister John Howard back home?

Does Australia have a strategic agenda which might strengthen its bargaining position vis-a-vis its closest northern neighbor? Now Australia's fear of Indonesia is turning out to be a self- fulfilling prophesy.

Unless a quick and profound restoration of mutual respect and credibility is sought, the countries' bilateral relationship will likely deteriorate.

In his 1997 book Is Australia an Asian Country?, Stephen Fitzgerald argued that in order to be accepted as an equal partner within the community of Asian nations, Australia had to put aside its irrelevant sense of superiority.

Lack of understanding and a complacent attitude toward its typically Eurocentric way of judging issues of common concern with its Asian neighbors, could prevent Australia from becoming a fully accepted member of the dynamic Asian community.

If Samuel P. Huntington's hypothesis on the clash of civilizations is valid, and if Australia continues to be insensitive to the feelings of its Asian neighbors, particularly Indonesia, it must be ready to live in the midst of a hostile environment.

With its aggressive policy in East Timor, Prime Minister John Howard has begun a dangerous political game, the consequences of which he might never have expected.

Aleksius Jemadu, Ph.D is a lecturer in the School of International Relations at Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung.