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.