Improving RI-U.S. ties
Improving RI-U.S. ties
The fact that informal relations between nations play an
important role in paving the way for formal relations -- or at
least helping to speed up the process of fostering closer
relations -- is beyond doubt. Even in times when formal relations
between countries are disrupted, informal relations between
individuals or private organizations of those countries often
help to bring relations back to normal.
It is in this context that we welcome the establishment of the
United States-Indonesia Society, which was inaugurated in
Washington in February 1994, but introduced just last night with
a gala reception in Jakarta.
Compared to the formation of similar societies between
Indonesia and other countries, the U.S.-Indonesia Society is a
latecomer. We do not know why it has taken half a century since
the emergence of Indonesia as an independent state for it to be
established. Perhaps the phenomenon has something to do with the
ups and downs in relations between the two countries. Or,
perhaps, it has something to do with the new U.S. policy which
seems to be turning more towards the Asia-Pacific region. After
all many people believe Asia will be the world's most promising
region in the next century.
We are of the opinion that the formation of the society is
timely. We agree with one particular observer who said that
relations between Jakarta and Washington have spiraled downward
during the last several years, mostly due to human rights issues
in Indonesia and the way Washington has approached those matters.
That relations have been moving towards the worse despite
official statements that they are "fundamentally sound" is
indicated, among other things, by the shocking accusation by a
retired general here recently that "the United States is one of
the parties which does not want to see Indonesia become an
advanced country and thus is plotting to topple the present
government".
Ridiculous as that statement may be, such remarks indicate to
a certain degree how unsatisfactory the relations actually are.
Although we doubt the allegations will get substantial support
here, the fact remains that this way of thinking exists and could
be nourished.
To some people here the allegation that the United States is
trying to topple the government brings back the memory of events
in the early 1960s, when the CIA allegedly backed clandestine
attempts to topple president Sukarno.
In the past year, however, we have seen serious efforts from
people on both sides to divert the relations from a collision
course. A series of conferences jointly sponsored by the Asia
Society and the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and
International Studies have been held since last year in various
cities in the United States with the theme "Indonesia, the United
States and the World Today". These conferences constitute a
concrete effort to educate Americans about the "unknown" or
"invisible" Indonesia.
The possible continuation of the International Military
Education and Training program in the near future is also a good
indication that there are still enough cool heads on the U.S.
side, who are not as short-sighted as, say, certain people in the
U.S. Congress.
That is why we believe that the United States-Indonesia
Society, under the leadership of people who really know about
Indonesia, such as former U.S. ambassadors Paul Wolfowitz and
Edward Masters, as well as Prof. Emil Salim from the Indonesian
side, could play an important role in bridging the gap between
the two societies. Hopefully, particularly in view of the absence
of a strong Indonesian lobby in the United States, the society
can also help in promoting a better understanding of the
Indonesian psyche among U.S. decision makers.
Of course it will require more than just goodwill and ample
funds to accomplish the society's mission to foster a better
understanding of Indonesia in the United States. Without a real
effort from the Indonesian side to help it succeed, which
includes mustering the maturity to take criticism, the mission
will be hampered.