Open letter to RI and Australia

This open letter has the support of many speakers and participants in the 17th Indonesia Update held at the Australian National University from Sept. 24 to Sept. 25, 1999. This annual event which brings together academics, public servants, businesspeople and citizens from Australia and Indonesia, is an important forum for analysis, discussion and dialog. We take this action in response to the urgent and worsening crisis between our two countries.

So, we would like to appeal to the governments and peoples of Australia and Indonesia as follows:

We Indonesian and Australian colleagues, sharing a commitment to open, democratic societies and to the welfare of all people in our two countries, are gravely concerned at the rapid deterioration in relations between Australia and Indonesia.

We call upon our two governments, media and citizens to conduct themselves in a spirit of tolerance and restraint, and in particular:

* to maintain open and trustful channels of communication and cooperation;

* to promote reconciliation and to refrain from threats, sanctions and abusive and hostile acts toward one another;

* to continue existing projects of development cooperation and exchange;

* jointly, in cooperation with other neighboring countries and under the auspices of the United Nations, to implement in good faith the May 5 New York agreement toward East Timor's independence.

Without underestimating the seriousness of current problems, we urge that a broad and harmonious relationship should remain our long-term goal for a common future as neighbors, to help Indonesians to succeed in their struggle toward an open and democratic society, and to serve as a cornerstone of peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

JAMES J FOX

Director

Institute of Advanced Studies

Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies

Canberra