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