Envoy to Australia

Envoy to Australia

Like everyone else, I don't like the negative impression
Mantiri's nomination as our envoy to Canberra has made in
Australia. Choosing an alternative doesn't mean that Indonesia
complies with the anti-Indonesian government wishes found in
Australia.

I nominate Indonesian actress Christine Hakim as our new envoy
to Canberra. She is a brilliantly balanced mix of Indonesian
conservative values and the western view of diplomacy. Her
powerful character has been important in reconciling rival anti-
East Timor forces abroad and pro-integration ones at home. We
need her to reduce tension between the two sides. Hakim's
appointment could be a present to the 20th anniversary of
integration. She is a truly flexible figure for Canberra (The
Jakarta Post, July 13, 1995).

IWAN SATYANEGARA

Jakarta