Megawati's visit to India
Megawati's visit to India
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is in the midst of a 4-nation
tour of China, South Korea, North Korea and India.
Apparently the visit to India has a more personal
character rather than anything else for Megawati. It is more
appropriate to describe it as a sentimental journey.
The Indonesian delegation may see for itself the viability of
India's economy with an annual growth of 10 percent, according to
officials. There have been and still are many hurdles in
bilateral relations between Indonesia and India, but trade ties
have grown at a considerable pace.
Bilateral cooperation in the past included Indian technical
assistance in the military field or rather in the training of
Indonesian military aircraft pilots by Indian personnel.
For President Megawati the visit perhaps brings to life a
memory of the past when, as a child, she met with Indian leaders
such as Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi while
accompanying her father the late president Sukarno.
No two countries are closer in spirit as Indonesia and India.
The nonaligned movement aimed at creating peace between the
warring East and West at the time, have come among others things
from their mind. The influence of the Ahimsa movement created by
India's legendary leader Mahatma Gandhi inspired
Indonesian nationalist leaders to fight with courage
and vigor against the Dutch colonial rulers.
The two nations today are facing similar problems of
over population and sectarian violence. But
India has now become an industrial giant in its own right
with export mainly to Middle Eastern and African
countries.
Indonesia is still struggling to keep its head above
the economic devastation of the recent past which includes a
heavy foreign debt burden. Perhaps Indonesia can learn from
India about coping with the correct way to finance a state
budget without relying on foreign aid. Also, Indonesians can
learn from Indian leaders that it is possible to live a modest
life style as opposed to luxurious one so many here seem to
prefer. Surely, there is some degree of corruption in India, too,
but the level is tolerable compared to conditions in Indonesia.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta