Indonesians hope for a leader like Japan's PM Koizumi

Indonesians hope for a leader like Japan's PM Koizumi

By Kornelius Purba

JAKARTA: The election of Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister
increases hope for the Japanese who are desperately seeking an
end to the prolonged economic crisis.

Indonesian newspapers have also placed stories about Koizumi
on their front pages.

Many Indonesians, fed up with their ongoing national
leadership crisis, are enthusiastic about the new development in
Japan. They hope that a politician like Koizumi will eventually
turn up in Indonesia. We, like the Japanese, are also attracted
to Koizumi's colorful life, including his failed marriage.
Because Koizumi is not well known in Indonesia, his election was
described by Indonesian newspapers as a big surprise.

The victory of Koizumi brings to mind the election of
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid. Abdurrahman's promise to
rebuild Indonesia was even more convincing because of his past
role as a human rights activist and prominent Muslim scholar. But
promise and commitment are often totally different from reality.

During my six-month stay in Japan I have had the opportunity
to observe the gloomy political life and stalled economic growth
of Japan.

As a guest researcher for The Asahi Shimbun Asia Network, I
was given the opportunity to meet with politicians, such as newly
appointed Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Taku
Yamasaki, and activists from nongovernmental organizations.

Yamasaki is known in Indonesia as a strong lobbyist. He is the
chairman of the Japan-Indonesian Diet Members League.

My Japanese friends told me Yamasaki and rebel Koichi Kato had
no political future because they had failed to topple then Prime
Minister Yoshiro Mori.

At the time, the LDP was busy talking about the need to go
ahead with infrastructure projects, like expanding the Shinkansen
network across Japan.

Meanwhile, the economy continued deteriorating and many
parties and even the U.S. government are urging Japan to make
reforms. During my stay, it was difficult to find supporters of
the Mori administration.

Many were ashamed of his behavior. Most of the people I met
were frustrated by their government and the corrupt political
elite. It was also funny to see how Mori tried to save his
government by arranging summits with U.S. President George W.
Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Interestingly, Japan's new leader comes from Mori's own
faction. Koizumi was among the first candidates who openly
expressed his desire to lead the world's second most powerful
economy. Mori brought his nation to the brink of disaster, but
his comrade, Koizumi, is expected to restore Japan's dignity on
the world stage.

His determination to end the domination of LDP factions, to
reform the economy, to privatize postal services, despite strong
opposition from the powerful Hashimoto faction, is very
impressive. But it might be difficult to implement such sensitive
policies.

The selection of the outspoken Makiko Tanaka to lead the
Foreign Ministry is also interesting.

After the embarrassing corruption scandal by a middle-ranking
official earlier this year, the ministry needs a strong person.

Tanaka is remembered in my country as the daughter who
accompanied her father, then Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, on a
visit to Jakarta on Jan. 15, 1974.

Her father's visit was met by the biggest ever anti-Japanese
riot in Jakarta. Koizumi has also sparked protests, especially
from China and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), over his
remarks on the need to revise the Constitution and the need for
Japan to have its own military.

Dependence on the United States for security and defense has
caused many problems for Japan.

In a recent conversation with Okinawa Governor Keiichi
Inamine, I got the strong impression that Japan needs to clear up
security matters with the United States.

As a sovereign state, it is natural for Japan to deter mine
its own future.

A referendum is necessary for people to have a say in the
country's future, and Japan should learn from its historic
mistakes. However, the nation should not let itself be trapped by
history.

Its dependence on the United States to provide security has
frustrated many people.

The reports about the negative behavior of U.S. soldiers
stationed in Japan and the anger displayed by the Japanese
reflects the deep frustration of the people.

Japan's measures to strengthen multilateral security
arrangements with its Asian neighbors is conducted through the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum.

However, the measures concentrate more on building confidence,
as many Asian countries remain suspicious of Japan's sincerity.
Meanwhile, the Japanese economy continues to weaken.

Japan is one of the strongest motivators behind the global
economy. Its economic revival is the key for the economies of
Asian countries and the world.

For Indonesia, Japan's recovery means Indonesia can export
more commodities and expect more investment.

Japan has played a leading role in helping several Asian
countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines,
Malaysia and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), in trying to
resolve the 1997 financial crisis.

It strongly encouraged those countries to abide by the
International Monetary Fund's (IMF) bitter prescription.

Japan must also accept IMF measures as the nation faces the
problems of bank restructuring and settling of bad loans.

Koizumi has said reform, not economic stimulus, is the key to
economic recovery.

Indonesia has experienced painful reform measures, not just
for the people, but also for the politicians and private
companies who lost their privileges.

Koizumi has support from his people. Abdurrahman, in the
beginning, had the same support. But now Abdurrahman's departure
is apparently only a matter of time.

Giving promises and making those promises reality is not the
same.

Koizumi will hopefully be able to end Japan's prolonged
economic crisis. In his election campaign he repeatedly said
reforms, like bank restructurings, are the only way for Japan to
get out of its economic crisis.

Western countries and Japan have always told Asian countries
-- especially Indonesia -- to adhere to IMF measures. Japan has
said it is the only way to prevent economic problems.

Now is the right time for Japan to practice what it preaches.
Open the economy to free competition, end political corruption
and conspiracies between the political elite, bureaucrats and the
private sector.

Japan needs strong leadership; Koizumi's stance over the
history textbook controversy was impressive, because a leader has
to sometimes take risks.

The recovery of the Japanese economy is important for the
revival of Asia. Many Asian countries are waiting for Koizumi to
make concrete results.

There are 900 Japanese firms operating in Indonesia. The
companies cannot develop, not just because of Indonesia's severe
political and economical crisis, but also because of the
difficulties faced by their parent companies in Japan.

Many Japanese firms are frustrated by the situation in
Indonesia.

An example is the car upholstery producer PT Kadera AR
Indonesia, whose parent company is located in Aichi Prefecture.

Upset with prolonged strikes, the company allegedly used
violence to end such activities. Two employees were killed when
an unidentified group attacked them at the plant in Jakarta. The
case has not been resolved.

But the company's frustration may also reflect Japan's
frustration in resolving its economic crisis.

The writer is a reporter of The Jakarta Post and a former
guest researcher for the Asahi Shimbun Asia Network, in which the
article first appeared.