Next show in Canberra

In the aborigine language Canberra means the "center of the earth", which is now the capital city of Australia, founded in 1913, with a population of about 300,000. Canberra is a small town, surrounded by lush greenery where koalas and bears may venture into the kitchen in search of food.

After traveling around the globe, President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur naturally must be allowed to see Canberra especially if somebody like the prime minister of the country is waiting.

One should not forget that this President is not afraid of whatever political consequences the visit will entail. Arguments are put forward by a number of members of the House of Representatives that a visit at this time will only benefit Prime Minister John Howard who is facing new elections. With the Australian press mostly unfriendly to Indonesia, and its army even willing, reportedly, to assist the Papuans in their fight against Indonesia for independence, not to mention the Australian attitude in favor of the East Timorese resistance against Indonesia, these members of the House regard Wahid's visit as a surrender to the Australians. There is also some risks involved when demonstrations are staged against the visit which is expected to occur.

However, one should not forget that Gus Dur is blessed by the mentality of the salmon that loves to swim upstream against the current. Danger, political or otherwise, is something that this cleric President has learned to face and love since he assumed power among his followers. After all, as he often claims, he did not want to be President when he was elected by the People's Consultative Assembly at the suggestion of its incumbent Speaker, Amien Rais. So he has nothing to lose when he visits the center of the world.

The President's guards and spokesman will scare off the bears which he knows are not so fierce and wild as the Russian red bears.

The President, seemingly, does not want to wait until the fugitive convict Tommy is arrested and safely put behind bars, if he ever will be. Australian investors are waiting impatiently to put their stakes in new oil ventures in the oil rich continental- shelf between Australia and Indonesia. It does not matter if he cannot see such much on his trips. What matters is that he remembers much and learns a lot in diplomacy and international relations. Tommy is not worth waiting for and the rate of the rupiah will take care of itself.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta