Help from RI's friends: Takeuchi and Wolfowitz

Help from RI's friends: Takeuchi and Wolfowitz

Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

When Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hosts a meeting
with visiting U.S. President George W. Bush in Tokyo on Monday,
two former ambassadors to Indonesia are expected to play
important roles in the summit of the leaders of two most powerful
economies in the world.

Vice Foreign Minister designate Yukio Takeuchi, who left his
ambassadorial post in Jakarta on Saturday, will join Foreign
Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi as a part of Koizumi's entourage.
Takeuchi's experience as a diplomat in the world's most populous
Muslim nation will help the Japanese side in understanding the
global war against terrorism from a predominantly Islamic
nation's perspective. Takeuchi only served as the Japanese envoy
here for 11 months until he was promoted to his current post.

Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz
is also expected to be involved in the preparation for Bush's
meeting, not just with Koizumi, but also with leaders of China
and South Korea during Bush's tour to Asia this week.

Takeuchi's experience as deputy chief of mission at the
Embassy of Japan in Washington in 1995, and director general for
the North American Affairs Bureau three years later, should also
be an asset in meetings with the U.S. guests.

Meanwhile, despite his often harsh criticism against the
Indonesian government's sluggishness, if not reluctance, to curb
terrorist networks here, Wolfowitz is mostly remembered as a
friend of Indonesia. Then U.S. president Ronald Reagan announced
Wolfowitz's appointment in April 1986, as his envoy to Jakarta
shortly before his meeting with then president Soeharto in Bali.
Wolfowitz, who at the time served as assistant secretary of state
for East Asia and Pacific affairs, was considered by many to be a
nice 'oleh oleh' (present) for Indonesia.

He was arguably the most popular ambassador in Jakarta at that
time. Before leaving Jakarta in May 1989, Wolfowitz however
tossed out a 'political bomb' during his farewell speech as he
urged strong man Soeharto to improve political openness. Ten
years later he was one of the first American guests to be
received by democratically-elected president Abdurrahman Wahid.

Wolfowitz later engineered a face-saving formula for
Abdurrahman -- when the latter fell from power in July 2001 -- by
arranging a medical visit to the U.S. At the time Abdurrahman
was in a tense standoff, refusing to leave Merdeka Palace and
hand over power to Megawati Soekarnoputri. Wolfowitz also invited
Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, to the Pentagon and told
Taufik not to become a political liability for his wife.

Therefore it is understandable, when many Indonesians may
expect that their powerful friends Takeuchi and Wolfowitz can
help the whole nation, not just the government or the political
leaders, in getting rid of the prolonged economic bitterness and
political upheavals. Of course their priority is to defend their
country's interests above everything, but their emotional
attachment to Indonesia however will likely make them
enthusiastic to offer assistance for the country.

Some may argue that Takeuchi and Wolfowitz are not so powerful
in their respective posts, but even in Japan, many groups,
including the media, expect much from Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage. Armitage is regarded as the most well-informed
about Japan on Bush's team due to his intensive relations with
the country.

In the context of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Secretary General Taku Yamasaki is also known for his intensive
relations with Indonesian leaders. Japanese companies often ask
for his help when they encounter trouble in Indonesia. Despite
its current crisis, Japan's role in Indonesia's economic recovery
is vital, as shown by its 4 trillion yen (US$40 billion)
bilateral loan to Indonesia, representing 60 percent of
Indonesia's outstanding bilateral debts.

It is disappointing that Megawati's advisors such as Minister
of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda did little to express their
pleasure with Takeuchi's promotion. Only Minister of Agriculture
Bungaran Saragih and his Japanese wife, Mihoko, attended the
ambassador's farewell reception last Wednesday. Takeuchi
eventually could meet with the President on Friday night after
several delays.

Megawati should learn a simple lesson from Soeharto at least
on how to deal with Japanese diplomats here. In a rare move,
Soeharto awarded the coveted "Jasa Utama" medal for outgoing
Japanese ambassador Sumio Edamura for his extraordinary
contributions to Indonesia when Edamura concluded his term in
January 1990. This medal was psychologically very important for
bilateral diplomacy.

Or look at former presidents B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman.
Defying basic protocol regulations, Habibie often hosted
luncheons or dinners for International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia
Pacific director Hubert Neiss when the latter came here to
negotiate a new letter of intent (LoI) with Indonesia. Neiss was
clearly pleased with the treatment although it did not
necessarily make his position softer toward the government.

Megawati can also learn from Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji who
used his good relations with her husband Taufik in accelerating
economic ties between the two countries. On the prime minister's
invitation, Taufik led a five-minister team to visit Beijing in
December.

According to press reports, Indonesia offered to buy up to 20
Chinese oil tankers in exchange for its bid of US$10 billion
toward a liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply contract for China.
Indonesian company Tangguh LNG, a 50-50 project owned by
Pertamina (Indonesian State Oil & Gas Mining Company) and BP in
Papua, had submitted its bid. Taufik's role has reportedly been
vital to the negotiations.

The government and private sectors often have to spend large
amounts of money to lobby the leaders of foreign countries or
corporations. There are many lobby consulting firms which provide
services for their clients, so there is a cost to lobby U.S.
politicians like Congress members and senators.

U.S. companies operating here, like Freeport, also often use
respected American figures, including Henry Kissinger and former
president George Bush Sr., in lobbying Indonesian governments for
the benefit of the company they represent.

Using friends of Indonesia can often be effective in lobbying
for the country and does not cost much. But going the extra mile
to maintain good relations with them is very important. There are
many businessmen or government officials in Japan who have strong
emotional ties with Jakarta, many of them were previously posted
in Jakarta, and are eager to help Indonesia. That was clear
during the visits of Megawati and Abdurrahman to Tokyo. The U.S.
situation is also similar.

The problem is how to maximize this potential opportunity
wisely.