No sweet talk please: Let Bush go to the beach

No sweet talk please: Let Bush go to the beach

Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta,
korpur@yahoo.com

When then U.S. president Ronald Reagan visited Bali for four
days in May 1986 on his way to attend the industrialized
countries summit in Tokyo, he delivered only empty promises.
Today, it is ridiculous to expect anything from U.S. President
George W. Bush who is scheduled to stop on the island for three
hours on Wednesday.

To win the heart of Soeharto, Reagan gave his host a pleasant
gift shortly before his arrival, appointing senior diplomat Paul
Wolfowitz as U.S. ambassador to Indonesia.

The meeting coincided with the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) Summit, where Reagan promised to convey ASEAN
aspirations at the Tokyo summit. To the outrage of Indonesia and
ASEAN, practically no single word from the proposal was included
in the Tokyo joint communique. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was
used as an excuse for Reagan's failure to deliver his promise.

So what can be expected from Bush who is only staying at the
Patra Hotel in Bali for three hours? Bush's probable true
response to Muslim leaders who rejected his invitation for a 30-
minute discussion with him on the grounds that it would be a
waste of time would be likely "Honestly, so do I."

His short sojourn is likely just a chance to regain his
stamina before his next meeting with Australian Prime Minister
John Howard, who Bush calls his sheriff for the Asia Pacific.

There is little for Bush to discuss with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri as they already met during the recent two-day Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Thailand. Megawati
has the right to be disappointed because Bush spent about eight
hours with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but only
three with her.

Like Arroyo and Bush, Megawati's father was a former president
and Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation. So one
might ask, why the less favor to Indonesia's president?

It is understandable that Bush is remaining confined to the
hotel, given it is just a few kilometers from the location of the
Bali bomb attack, which left 202 people dead. Megawati's minders
have perhaps advised her not to ask for any favors as one cannot
pin much hope on anything that comes out of Bush's mouth. Even
officials in Washington will be issuing the same advice.

The Washington Post in its Monday edition quoted White House
officials as saying that Bush misspoke last week when he said the
U.S. was ready to launch new military training programs with
Indonesia. Military ties have been frozen for years because of
the human rights record of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

But what if the U.S. President demanded Megawati prove she was
really serious in fighting terrorism? The President could give a
simple but convincing answer: "George, let's go to Krobokan
prison, which is not far from here." Convicted Bali bombers,
including Imam Samudra and Amrozi, are jailed there.

Who knows, after seeing the prison with his own eyes, the
world's most powerful person could be so impressed that he might
tell Megawati that he wants Hambali, Indonesia's most wanted
terrorist suspect, to be jailed there also.

It might be better if Bush just stayed on the beach at the
rear of the hotel and simply enjoy Bali's peaceful and
magnificent surroundings. For security reasons he would not
likely be able to get a massage. However, with a security
clearance from the U.S. Secret Service a woman could braid his
hair. Selected vendors could also be invited to offer selected
handicrafts.

But according to reports the top brass from the TNI and
National Police have vowed that as Indonesia is Bush's host, they
are responsible for his security, not the Secret Service.

Actually Bush's visit is expected to help revive Bali's
tourism industry, which was left in ruins after the Oct. 12
terrorist attack. It is yet to recover, although Australian
tourists are returning. The Balinese would be very grateful if
his visit could help them convince the world that the island is
again safe.

However, if Bush does not want to be bothered during his
"stay", he can hang the "Do not disturb" sign on the door of his
hotel room.