Elitist diplomacy
Elitist diplomacy
A recently advertised discussion involving Australian
Ambassador David Richie and well-known talk show host and
commentator Wimar Witoelar at the Hotel Nikko caught my eye as an
interesting event in which Indonesian-Australian relations and
Australian policies were to be discussed.
However, after making an enquiry with the event organizer,
Intermatrix, it was revealed that the admission fee for this
discussion was Rp 1 million.
I have no quarrel with the event organizer staging such an
event and the admission fee charged may well be quite marketable.
However, what struck me was why the Australian government would
choose such an elitist venue to explain its policies. It is
highly questionable whether ordinary Indonesians (or even the
relatively wealthy) would be willing to pay such an exorbitant
admission fee for what apparently was intended to be a talk show
format. Could equally informative and stimulating discussions not
also be seen for free on television or at other live events at a
far lower price?
One is tempted to compare the approach with that of former
British ambassador Richard Gozney, who was bravely prepared to
defend his government's controversial policy toward Iraq last
year; first, on national television, and second, in the
Indonesian language which he speaks fluently! Such action gained
the admiration of many Indonesians even if they opposed the war.
On a related issue, the Australian Embassy is extremely well-
equipped and even contains a large theater. The Australian film
industry has been a leader in the world over the last 30 years.
Yet the embassy, to my knowledge, has never in the last eight
years held an Australian film festival that might give
Indonesians some insight into our culture and lifestyle.
Again, this contrasts with the British, Dutch, French and
Italians -- all of whom have screened movies to a broad audience
at a reasonable price -- often with far less impressive
facilities than those possessed by the Australians.
ROGER ANTHONY SMITH
Jakarta