JP/1/DISCOURSE

JP/1/DISCOURSE

Megawati's balancing act in U.S. visit

How can President Megawati Soekarnoputri make the best of a
delicate visit to the United States, given last week's tragedy?
The Jakarta Post talked to Wiryono Sastrohandoyo,
a former envoy to France who was also ambassador to Australia
until last year.

Question: Why is President Bush going ahead with his
invitation to President Megawati, despite the recent terrorist
attacks?

Answer: It seems that President Bush is prepared and eager to
meet with President Megawati. For the Indonesian side, it's
difficult to say no. The presence of the president of the nation,
the majority of whose population are Muslim, and the largest
Muslim population in the world, is symbolically important. It is
eminently appropriate to have the President of Indonesia in
Washington, because that will be seen by the people of the U.S.
as Indonesia being at one with the U.S. at this hour of grief and
sadness. That is, I think, the symbolic meaning of this visit.

See how CNN described President Megawati as the head of
government of the nation with the fourth-largest population and
the world's largest Muslim population. The U.S. will also be
happy to hear from our President at least (judging from) what she
said before (in condemning the violence) and maybe more than
that.

But it is also in our interest to be expressing the voice of
wisdom. The world is experiencing a big problem and we cannot
just point fingers; we need to be able to look into the problem
with honesty because otherwise we will not be able to understand
what is going on ...

What message should Megawati convey to the U.S. government?

Naturally, she can reiterate what she has stated through
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda: that we condemn
terrorism and are ready to cooperate with the U.S. to combat
terrorism; and then suggest the long-term view because the U.S.
is probably focusing on one short-term solution.

But for people in the U.S. retaliation is very important, and
if the government doesn't retaliate in a manner that is perceived
as sufficient, then the government will face difficulties. (The
issue) will become a partisan political issue in the U.S. The
President may be attacked for lacking determination in tackling
these terrorists. So that is the political dimension.

But internationally ... the strength of the U.S. is in acting
proportionately, because if it is perceived as excessive then it
will be more difficult for the U.S. That is essentially what our
President could say to President Bush, to look beyond retaliation
and (act) together with others under the United Nations
resolution, and also to think beyond retaliatory actions. This is
also the view of many developing countries.

There are fears that Megawati's visit could be used by the
U.S. to justify its retaliatory actions.

Within our own country there are different views: There are
sympathetic feelings to the U.S. as well as those who are very
critical.

This is, of course, the risk that Ibu Megawati is taking.
Therefore there is a need to be wise in making statements, which
should be ... balanced but clearly also indicating that we
definitely condemn these acts of barbarism and are willing to
cooperate to uphold justice, and also to deal with the grievances
of those feeling marginalized. The U.S. could, of course, act
alone, because it is the sole superpower, but even superpowers
need to act proportionately and not in an excessive manner.

But Indonesia itself has not resolved terrorism at home.

This is caused by different reasons, but basically it's the
same ... Our government was perceived as acting in an unjust and
imbalanced way; people in Aceh and Irian Jaya felt they were
victims of injustice. And we are now dealing with this problem,
and the U.S. itself is advising Indonesia not to use force. The
fact that we are facing terrorism and violence ourselves does not
preclude us from expressing views to use nonviolence to settle
problems. We need not be shy in expressing our views, in showing
a genuine desire to resolve the problem in an enduring way.

What Indonesian interests could be served after these
bilateral talks?

Our economic recovery depends very much on the International
Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Consultative Group on
Indonesia and the Paris Club, where U.S. influence is very
strong. We need to maintain good relations with the U.S.

Of course it would not be nice of us to impose ourselves and
neither do we have the ability to do so, but we need to raise
some difficult things ... In terms of what has happened in East
Timor ... our government has done a lot (in this area).

Our exports are going to be hit because our exports to the
U.S., even before the crisis, have declined. Indonesia needs
stronger government regulation in boosting our exports to the
U.S.

Subsequently, policies to encourage investment in Indonesia
must also be implemented to enable Indonesia to return as the
anchor of stability in Southeast Asia. The U.S. will feel more
comfortable if this region is stable, a matter in which Indonesia
is of strategic importance. (Kornelius Purba)

Editorial -- Page 4