Jakarta names Wirjono ambassador for Canberra
Jakarta names Wirjono ambassador for Canberra
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto selected senior diplomat
Wirjono Sastrohandojo, currently Jakarta's envoy to France, as
Indonesia's new ambassador for Australia, ending months of
controversy and speculation about who should fill the post.
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono announced yesterday that
Wirjono will be appointed "as soon as possible".
"It all depends on the schedule of the President. But the
sooner the better," he told reporters at his office.
"As Australia is our neighbor, we are sending an ambassador
who is senior and competent for the Australian post," he said.
The announcement was made only hours after the Indonesian
government received notice of the Australian government's
approval of Wirjono's appointment.
"I think I can say that one of the chief requirements for the
job of an ambassador is the ability to communicate in a proactive
manner, not only with the government where he resides but also
with groups in society that are known to be critical,
particularly the press," Moerdiono said.
Wirjono, a 61-year-old father of three from Yogyakarta, is a
career diplomat with previous ambassadorial posts in Austria
(1989-1990) and France (1993- to present).
He became Indonesia's number one spokesman on human rights
issues abroad when he was Director General for Political Affairs
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 1990 and 1993. His
extensive knowledge about human rights bodes well for the
Canberra post given Australia's strong concern and often critical
views about Indonesia's human rights record, particularly in East
Timor.
His earlier overseas posts include Argentina, the United
States and the United Nations. He was also director for American
affairs at the ministry. He is fluent in English, French and
Spanish, the ministry said in a statement.
The Canberra post has been left vacant since the return of
Ambassador Sabam Siagian, a former journalist, to Jakarta in
June. His appointed successor, Lt. Gen. H.B.L. Mantiri, was
dropped because of a last minute objection from some groups in
Australia about his appointment. Canberra had already given its
approval earlier.
The Australian press learned of an 1992 interview in which
Mantiri condoned the 1991 incident in East Timor that left,
according to official account, around 50 people dead. The press
report started widespread controversy about Mantiri's appointment
in Australia.
Because of the controversy, President Soeharto decided in July
to leave the ambassadorial post vacant. It was not until
September, when Soeharto met with Australian Prime Minister Paul
Keating, that the Indonesian government began considering who
should fill the post.
Wirjono was chosen from a number of candidates, including
military officers, a top scholar, a member of the House of
Representatives, a senior journalist, and a number of other
senior diplomats.
In Canberra, Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said he
became acquainted with Wirjono during the protracted Cambodian
peace talks which Indonesia and Australia were involved in the
1980s, AFP reported.
"I know Pak Wir personally as a result of close contact with
him and (foreign minister) Ali Alatas during the Cambodian peace
negotiations and have the highest regard for him," Evans said in
a statement. "It is pleasing that the Indonesian government has
appointed an ambassador of such caliber."
"Mr. Wirjono is a very senior member of Indonesia's diplomatic
service and can be expected to make a substantial contribution to
the further development of Australian-Indonesian relations,"
Evans stated. (emb)