Legislators to give Howard the cold shoulder
Legislators to give Howard the cold shoulder
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The usual niceties that accompany a state visit are being ignored by many politicians here, and could result in a political embarrassment for both Jakarta and Canberra on Wednesday as several legislators have pledged to give visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard the cold shoulder.
Key members of both the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly have refused to submit to protocol and formal pleasantries due to their bitterness toward the Australian leader, pledging instead to boycott the three-day visit.
To the chagrin of the government, legislators are underscoring Canberra's repeated interference in Indonesia's domestic affairs.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda tried to play down the boycott, saying it was not the official stance of the House, while stressing that bilateral ties were too strong to be affected.
"Some of the members did raise their concerns, but not all," Hassan told The Jakarta Post, after attending a hearing with the House's Commission I on Monday.
But House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno insisted that the House was firm in its stance, as a protest to Howard's "interference" in Indonesian affairs, including the issue of separatist movements in Aceh and Papua.
He claimed all 11 House factions supported the move, and the doors of the legislature would remain shut to the Australian prime minister despite plans to visit the House on Thursday.
"We do not sympathize with Australia," Soetardjo said, while pointedly adding that, "Australia should learn to respect Indonesia, which does not want Australia to meddle in our domestic affairs!"
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais expressed support for the House's position and also said he cancel his planned meeting with Howard on Thursday.
This latest episode once again highlights the continuing difficulties of ties with Indonesia's southern neighbor.
Unfortunately many of Howard's remarks over the past three years have only sharpened the thorns of an already prickly relationship.
The latest outburst last year angered many here who took exception as Howard scolded Jakarta for being too slow in curbing the flow of asylum seekers bound for Australia via Indonesian waters.
Howard, for his part, has made a concerted effort in attempts to soothe possible irritants, with varied results.
He was the first "western" leader to visit Megawati after becoming president. At the time he used the term "positive realism" to describe ties between the two countries.
And while Megawati and her Cabinet may extend the warmest of official greetings when he arrives, it was evident that even Megawati's own party was not exactly overjoyed.
"Australia has this dualistic approach when it comes to Papua," said Roy BB Janis, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the House.
"Howard's visit is not largely welcomed by our party," Roy told reporters after the party's weekly meeting.
As a party known to strictly adhere to the authority of the central board, particularly that of their chairwoman, PDI Perjuangan's position may be a clearer barometer of the political reality.
Unfortunately for Howard, it seems weather has also given him a chilly reception here.
The floods that have hit Jakarta have also been a cause of concern. Only after receiving assurances from President Megawati Soekarnoputri that she was awaiting his arrival did he decide to go ahead with the planned visit.
The prime minister has had to drop plans to stay at the Regent Hotel in South Jakarta due to the flood and move to the drier surroundings of the Borobudur Hotel in Central Jakarta.
A visit to the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery has also been canceled due to the flood.