Hassan visits Australia despite criticisms

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Is there any need for the Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit Australia?

That was the general mood of many legislators during a hearing of the House of Representative's Commission I on Defense and Foreign Policy with Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda shortly before his impending departure to Indonesia's southern neighbor Tuesday morning.

Of course any cancellation of the visit was out of the question, as Hassan just hours later, was aboard an airliner headed for Australia, but the cynicism seemed to reflect the prevailing disposition in the hearts of many Indonesians.

Jakarta has few official ties that are more charged with emotion than those with Canberra.

Hassan calmly responded to the various queries. He said he understood the touchy nature of the situation, but at the same time stressed the necessity to refocus attention on the needs for a "balanced relationship" with Australia, or in his words: to create symmetry.

"I understand the sensitivity of Indonesia-Australia ties. We have a very emotional relationship," he stated.

"It is important for us to establish symmetric relations," Hassan remarked while pointing out that Australian officials have repeatedly visited Indonesia.

"It is time for us to move on from the emotional stance of our relationships," he added while assuring that his visit would not be a harbinger to Jakarta being prostrate to Australian policy.

"There are times when we should be stern, so they can understand our point."

Golkar Party legislator Yasril Ananta Baharuddin was among those most skeptical, stressing that the visit was completely unnecessary as it was Australia which seems to be reluctant to make the effort in mending ties with Indonesia.

"Why then should Mr. Foreign Minister go to Australia now?" Yasril asked.

The relationship, without a doubt, has been far from laid back with the words "strained" a mild description of ties for the past three years.

From events surrounding the East Timor debacle in late 1999, to the most recent issue of the illegal asylum-seekers, irritants have become more of a norm than an exception in the relationship.

Ties did perk up a bit when Abdurrahman Wahid, in the dying weeks of his presidency, became the first Indonesian leader to visit Australia in 25 years.

But Megawati Soekarnoputri's administration has been more cautious in its Australian approach.

Hassan himself recently warned Australia against reemploying its old habit of "megaphone diplomacy". He has instead asked them to exhibit true sincerity by sitting down and resolving mutual problems.

But his departure to Australia was a surprise, as his trip seemed to coincide with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's sudden cancellation of his plan to come here on Nov. 25.

The illegal immigrant issue is expected to dominate his talks with Downer.

On Friday Hassan will continue on to New Zealand and may stopover in Papua New Guinea on his way home on Sunday.

International affairs analyst Dewi Fortuna Anwar, when asked by The Jakarta Post to comment on the visit also tried to focus on the need to get things settled.

"We do not have to argue about who is coming to visit whom...It is important for us to settle the many problems and underline our stance especially on the refugee issue," Dewi said.

Hassan himself during the hearing chose a famous cliche to explain the administration's apparent overall view on the matter: "We can choose our friends, but we cannot choose our neighbors. (Thus) We should find ways to develop good measures with our neighbor."