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