Downturn in Indonesia-U.S. relations?

Downturn in Indonesia-U.S. relations?

The following is the second of two articles based on a
presentation given at a discussion on ties between Indonesia and
the U.S., by Prof. Dr. Hasjim Djalal, M.A.. He has been
Ambassador-at-Large for the Law of the Sea/Maritime Affairs since
1994 and teaches international law and relations at Padjadjaran
University, Bandung. The discussion was organized by the Golkar
party on Nov. 1 in Jakarta.

JAKARTA: It should be Indonesia's policy to seek cooperation
with the United States so as to ensure peace, stability and
cooperation in Southeast Asia. It should be a major component of
Indonesian diplomacy in Washington and Canberra to cultivate a
feeling that the stability, progress and unity of Indonesia is in
the best interests of the U.S. and Australia.

Now, let us also look at the nature of relations between
Indonesia and the U.S. in other areas. Ideologically, there
should not be many problems. Even during the height of the Cold
War relations between Indonesia and the U.S. were not bad despite
some difficulties during president Sukarno's time.

Cooperation in the areas of trade, the economy, culture,
technology, education and even military training went smoothly.
Ironically, since the move towards democracy in Indonesia,
relations seem to have become more contentious.

This is unfortunate, especially given the high level of
respect for President Abdurrahman Wahid in the U.S., perhaps even
more so than in Indonesia. Basically, both countries are pursuing
democracy, although the technical nature and mechanisms of the
democratic processes in both countries are different given their
respective cultural backgrounds.

In addition, the peoples of the U.S. have come from across the
world and tens of thousands of immigrants are still coming each
year. What is most significant is that the U.S. is basically a
continental country while Indonesia is an archipelagic country.

As a nation state, however, the U.S. is much older than
Indonesia and therefore has had much more experience. As the U.S.
achieved stability and cohesion long before us, it is incumbent
upon the U.S. to be more understanding of Indonesian problems
than the other way around.

It should be more tolerant of Indonesian criticisms of its
policies. Yet what is happening now is that Indonesians seem to
be more tolerant towards the U.S., whether regarding its policies
towards its minorities or its position as a global power.

Meanwhile, the U.S., no matter how well intentioned, seems to
show less tolerance towards Indonesia, whether regarding the
process of moving towards democracy, its progress in achieving
better protection for human rights and the environment, and in
bringing about good governance, its efforts to overcome the
economic and social crisis or its attempts to achieve a better
balance in the civil-military relationship.

While the U.S. is dependent upon the goodwill and cooperation
of Indonesia in maritime geostrategic terms, Indonesia is
basically dependent upon the U.S. for aid, trade, technical
assistance, tourism and markets.

This situation should actually lead to mutual understanding,
respect and cooperation. The U.S. plays very significant roles in
the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World
Bank, and in various other global and regional organizations.

Dispensing with the U.S. in these organizations would be more
detrimental to Indonesia than to the U.S.

For years Indonesia has been garnering support and cooperation
from various other international organizations and groups such as
in the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of the Islamic
Conference and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

However, cooperation with the U.S. cannot be ignored, mainly
because of the close relations between the U.S. and the member
countries of the above organizations.

Indonesia also needs the U.S. more in the fields of science
and technology -- the gap between the two in these fields is
widening by the day. In fact, Indonesia should have learned by
now that many of its problems lately has been, to some extent,
due to its inability to comprehend the impact of globalization on
ideas, science and technology.

Relations between the two countries should therefore be
complementary and friendly. There has been some misunderstanding
and animosity but the two sides must grow to appreciate the
importance of their relationship. What appears to be the problem
at the moment is that they have different ways of expressing this
appreciation.

The U.S. is perhaps too overbearing and unmindful of
Indonesia's problems while the latter is maybe too sensitive,
both because of its simultaneous fear of and overdependence on
the U.S.

Indonesia has been unable to avail of its significant maritime
geostrategic position in its relations with the U.S., while the
latter has never been reluctant to display its economic,
military, political and technological might.

For the purpose of fostering better relations, some
suggestions might be useful here:

1. The two countries should begin to examine their relations
in earnest. If there is not one already, an independent Institute
of Indonesian-U.S. Relations should be established in both
countries with the support of their respective governments, to
enable a continuous intellectual and realistic assessment of
their ties, with recommendations being made whenever necessary.

2. More and better dialogs should be held between the
Indonesian House of Representatives and the U.S. Congress --
which is understood to play a significant role in U.S. foreign
policy. It is also generally felt that quite a substantial number
of Senators and Congressmen are not well-versed in Indonesian
political, economic and strategic requirements, and vice versa.

The Indonesian House of Representatives should also establish,
if it has not already done so, a committee or a study group to
handle our relations with the U.S. in an intellectual, realistic,
ongoing and reasonable manner.