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.