Indonesia's precious chance for international respect

Wimar Witoelar, Jakarta

They say political discontent comes from raised expectations. That was the case with the raised expectations arising out of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono campaign, and it could become the case now as the government promises coordinated action in Aceh. For almost a week, we have been titillated by Cabinet ministers, up to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, talk about a new agency that will manage the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh. This is good news in the context of concerns that Aceh might fall victim to corruption, miscoordination and factionalism.

However, the agency is still little more than news gossip. Plans to start rebuilding in Aceh are at a standstill. The delay has given space to the naysayers who jump at the chance to discredit the government's newly improved relations with donor countries. The issue is fast becoming a target for the latest game of political football. Self-professed experts on Aceh emphatically question the appointment of a non-Acehnese to the position. "Why a Jakartan?"

It is just a matter of time before more catchy issues are paraded out by fringe groups. "Why accept foreign aid? They will just use it to dominate us." These attitudes are irrational, but they are out there. More worrying are suspicions that foreigners are dictating the strategy, operations and public communications in Aceh. There is enthusiasm to award work contracts, but no instinct to start by making the public understand the need for international assistance.

The government and the international donors do not understand that the public is extremely wary of the role of foreigners in Aceh's recovery. More time is spent in back rooms than out in the open enlightening centers of public opinion and mobilizing their support.

The Nias earthquake followed the Aceh tragedy -- a smaller but equally painful human tragedy. These tragedies shock us into disbelief and humility, but not into despair. The response from our fellow human beings has been tremendously inspiring. We are united by the tragedy. The whole planet is watching Aceh. They are seeing victims of nature. The last time the world looked at us they saw East Timor, and they saw victims of atrocities. The difference is telling in Australia. East Timor was the lowest point in Australian respect for Indonesia. Aceh represents the highest point of Australian sympathy for Indonesia.

The challenge is to strengthen the bonds that unite us in the Aceh and Nias tragedies. Opportunities beckon but the dangers are very real. International assistance pledged for Aceh has reached historical highs, running at about US$4 billion.

Let us not dwell on the negative possibilities. If the funds are properly used they will stimulate a multiplier effect. Most directly, this will be felt in the economic sphere. Sound planning of infrastructure, social services, economic centers and networks will reform Aceh into a special province living up to its natural and human potentials.

There will be an even more significant bonus from a successful Aceh recovery program. As the world watches, Indonesia will have a chance to gain respect. The image of Indonesia as a corrupt nation will be dispelled if a professional rehabilitation and reconstruction team established by the government highlights Indonesian competence and compassion. In addition, the people of Indonesia will see the positive side of international engagement. The point will be made that xenophobia is totally irrational and antisocial. There are good foreigners and there are bad foreigners, just as there are good Indonesians and bad Indonesians.

We recently endured a short spate involving the bashing of the World Bank, multinationals companies, international consultants, and others besides. The hostility is based on irrational attitudes, but there are underlying legitimate concerns. The most basic concern is simple. The people want respect. There is the impression that international experts do not engage with local talent even when the "three-day experts" are hopelessly ignorant about Indonesia. Or they work with locals who are dependent on foreign patronage.

The outcome is that the ignorance of some foreigners is perceived as arrogance. On the other hand, many foreigners see Indonesians as corrupt and unproductive. It is now critical to dispel these stereotypes. We have a window of opportunity for a rebirth of our international relations. The only way to keep the window open is through effective communications.

All experts know the theory. Know your audience, define the issues, set strategic goals. That is difficult enough, but only part of it. Communication is about winning hearts and minds. All the experts in the world will be counterproductive in the Aceh issue if they see themselves as experts and do not try to win Indonesian hearts and minds. We are not talking about maudlin sentiments here but rather compassion, respect and a sense of historical perspective. You cannot be arrogant and manage to win people's hearts. Empathy is the key word and the only word in effective communications.

We are now expecting solid names to take charge in Aceh, but it is anybody's guess who will finally be announced, and with whom they will work. It would be disappointing, but not inconsistent with past experience, for the appointments to be determined by expediency, not by expertise.

As Indonesia faces a political watershed of historic proportions, the President seems to be faltering again. When the President falters, all the President's men also stand still. Good people poised to take charge of problems are silent as they tread water in administrative and logistical minutiae. Games and intrigue kill time as the post-tsunami opportunities dissipate.

The writer is chairman of InterMatrix Communications. He can be reached at wimarwitoelar@gmail.com