Mondale's mission

U.S. President Clinton's special emissary, former U.S. vice president Walter Mondale, has officially come to Indonesia to discuss the economic crisis with President Soeharto. But speculation has arisen on both sides of the Pacific over the real nature of his mission. Mondale's domestic and international stature and Indonesia's precarious political situation helped to fuel speculation that there was more than meets the eye in his talks with Soeharto yesterday.

Sections of the American media suggested that Mondale had come to urge Soeharto to step down, on Clinton's behalf. If true, the timing was certainly appropriate given the ongoing presidential election process in Indonesia. Some observers drew analogy with the time when the U.S. administration pulled the rug from under Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s.

Others speculated that Mondale was using his broad mandate to try to coerce the Indonesian leader into carrying out sweeping political changes, in addition to the promised economic reforms. Again, this seems a valid theory judging by recent expressions of concern American officials have made over the political situation in Indonesia. If this is true, Mondale could have made some remarks about Soeharto's choice of vice president and the next cabinet line up.

Unsurprisingly, some people on this side of the Pacific became suspicious of Mondale's intentions. They warned the U.S. against meddling with Indonesia's domestic affairs. These were reasonable concerns given that the U.S. funded a number of separatist rebellions in Indonesia in the 1950s. Conflict in our archipelago was a traumatic experience that few Indonesians who lived through the turbulent post-independence period will ever forget.

There is also Washington's opposition to a plan to fix the rupiah rate of exchange using a currency board system (CBS). Many Indonesian officials believe such a system to be capable of restoring currency stability and easing the economic crisis. The proposal is popular here and it is perhaps due to this that proponents of the concept are uneasy about the United States and other western country's strongly voiced criticisms of the plan.

However, entertaining these conspiratorial suspicions overlooks the strong foundations which characterize our bilateral relations with the U.S. The two countries have had differences in the past, and still do now, but they also have many common interests and it is upon these that ties have been built. Relations have developed on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefits. There is no reason to suspect that this has changed. Besides, Soeharto and Clinton are known to have forged a close rapport over the years.

There is a growing realization of the importance of Indonesia to U.S. strategic interests in Southeast Asia. Her geographical size, location and huge population make Indonesia a critical part of regional politics. Instability in Indonesia would be of concern to Washington, a fact reflected in the increasing coverage Indonesia receives in the American press.

The United States has a major stake in Indonesia and Indonesian efforts to overcome the crisis. Clinton's administration has been trying to justify funding for the International Monetary Fund, the organization which brokered Indonesia's US$43 billion rescue package, to the U.S. congress.

The real nature of Mondale's visit may not be known for some time, if it ever is since Clinton's message for Soeharto is confidential. But on the basis of Mondale's explanation, it would appear that Clinton was expressing his concern over developments in Indonesia. This concern is valid given the strong U.S. interests in Indonesia.

Mondale's visit should be viewed in the broader context of U.S.-Indonesian relations, and we believe that Clinton had sent his top emissary with the best of intentions, to represent the interests of America, and to forward the interests of Indonesia.