Diplomats

Diplomats

From Kompas

I read with interest the article in Kompas of Dec. 7, 1996,
titled Partai Komunis Portugal - Revolusi Bunga Fretilin
(Portuguese Communist Party - the Flower Revolution of Fretilin)
by Subijakto Prawirasoebrata. In the concluding paragraph, the
writer, who is head of LPSI (the National Institution of
Strategic Studies), suggested that Indonesia should conduct
lobbying activities in various international forums, and should
not keep a low profile. To maintain a low profile attitude will
give the impression that Indonesia is on the wrong side and
therefore deserves to be penalized.

It seems necessary for all Indonesian embassies to be more
active in lobbying and should not shun challenges that might harm
the national interest.

I recall an event that took place two years ago. Some time
before the APEC summit in Osaka, Japan, a diplomat from the
Indonesian embassy in Tokyo was too timid to accept the challenge
of Japan's NHK television station to be present at a forum to
discuss East Timor. Consequently Indonesia was not represented,
and the Japanese socialist group succeeded in raising East Timor
as one of the issues of their political campaign.

What has impeded our diplomats from speaking the truth about
East Timor? Is it because they do not have a good grasp of the
problematic issue, or is speaking in a foreign language too great
a constraint for them?

Also they should not continuously state that the East Timor
issue is purely an internal affair of the Indonesian nation and
is separate from the international political network. Diplomatic
success depends largely on maintaining good control over internal
issues but not without keeping focused on international
perspectives.

An Indonesian citizen

living abroad