Friends down under
It was hailed as a "new era" of relations between Indonesia and Australia. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister John Howard both came out of their meeting in Canberra on Monday beaming with mutual praise and confidence over the future of ties between the often spatting neighbors.
Susilo's visit was in itself historic, being only the third time an Indonesian leader has visited its southern neighbor. The President's trip to Australia so early in his administration underlines the importance Jakarta places on the relationship with Canberra. It is hoped that his counterpart recognizes this fact as a major turning point in bilateral relations.
While Monday's summit serves as an important catalyst for future cooperation, it should be noted, however, that even without direct government intervention, ties between the nations had already solidified in the most important of areas: people-to- people relationships.
Tens of thousands of Indonesians and Australians exchange visits annually whether for tourism, education, cultural or business purposes.
Jakarta, Sydney, Bali, Melbourne, Yogyakarta, the Gold Coast, among others, are familiar destinations for the two peoples. Seeing an Indonesian in Perth is as common as seeing one in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
Hence, rather than the formal communiques paving the way for a broader relationship, it is the informal exchanges which have been the bedrock of this relationship. And that is how it is supposed to be.
A sense of kinship was felt when Australians opened their hearts and wallets to help victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami and Nias earthquake.
Canberra showed that it is not only hasty in making things politically difficult for Jakarta, but also quick to lend a hand in times of need.
The contribution and sacrifice of the Australian people in helping victims of the natural disaster is much appreciated.
Another noteworthy outcome of the summit was Canberra's affirmation that it would not support separatist groups in Indonesia and would respect the country's territorial integrity.
The signing of an agreement to that end, and Howard's statement that he wished to see the problem of separatist movements in Aceh and Papua resolved "amicably", hopefully, lays to rest the nagging view here of Australia's hidden motives and its creeping jurisdiction into the archipelago.
A genuinely positive and constructive relationship should also suffice in the absence of a formal security treaty. Enhanced cooperation in the field of defense and security forms a strong enough backbone for synergy in areas of counter-terrorism and antismuggling -- whether contraband or human.
Susilo's announcement that Indonesia would lobby for Australia's admission into the inaugural East Asia Summit later this year should come as no surprise.
The move was not a particular gesture toward Canberra as the initiative was well underway to include Australia along with New Zealand and India in this newly established forum which would include the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with China, South Korea and Japan.
It is the Indonesian foreign ministry's conviction that such a forum at its inception should include all the major geographical players in the region so the forum does not simply emulate the already established ASEAN plus Three meetings.
Based on its own merits one could argue whether Australia merits a place in a grouping of truly Asian countries. Canberra, especially during Howard's administration, has acted somewhat indifferently toward its Asian "identity". It has found difficulty reconciling its European heritage with the realities of its geographic location.
Many of its diplomatic initiatives -- including its refusal to sign the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation -- has not endeared itself to its Asian neighbors.
Jakarta is taking a risk in taking pains to include a country in a forum (the East Asia Summit) that that country itself does not seem interested in joining.
In this respect we urge Canberra to show more conviction in being a responsible member of a neighborhood which is, by way of migration, the origin of a significantly growing number of its population.
Relations between Indonesia and Australia have been subject to emotional issues for too long; tantrums and misperceptions sparked by psychological nuances.
Future disagreements will inevitably arise in the future. But if Australia can come to terms with its identity and leaders -- in government and parliament -- in both capitals approach their relationship with sobriety, the potential of bilateral ties can truly be fulfilled.