Our own agenda

Our own agenda

With Australia riding in the foreign policy slipstream of the
United States, it is no surprise that Canberra has been quietly
backing U.S. plans to resume military links with Indonesia as
part of Washington's expanded "war against terrorism". The U.S.
rationale is that only with U.S. support can Indonesia's
dispirited armed forces effectively pursue suspected Indonesian-
based terrorist cells.

Canberra ... is likely to further complicate Australia's
precarious bilateral relationship with Indonesia. When Howard
landed in Jakarta yesterday that relationship was looking
decidedly shaky on several fronts.

The issue of U.S.-Indonesian military ties is clearly of
considerable interest to Australia. Both Australia and the U.S.
have previously linked the resumption of military cooperation to
reforms within the Indonesian military and the prosecution of
officers responsible for human rights abuses.

Without such reforms in place, Howard must be careful to
separate Australia's interests from the goals of the U.S. anti-
terrorist campaign. Australia's earlier policy of close military
engagement, including the training of Indonesia's notorious
special forces, proved ineffective in protecting human rights and
attracted considerable opposition at home. Perhaps more
importantly, Australia should avoid being seen as America's
messenger in Asia if it is to repair damaged diplomatic ties in
the region.

From Indonesia's point of view there are compelling reasons to
resist U.S. military assistance. While President Megawati
Soekarnoputri was an early supporter of the U.S. campaign, she
faced considerable anti-U.S. sentiment.

Islam is a powerful vehicle for grievances however ... and its
small armed Islamic groups play into a series of complex and
dangerous local power struggles over resources and political
power. This means any outside intervention would be extremely
sensitive. Many Indonesians viewed the U.S. military assault on
Afghanistan as an attack on Muslim brotherhood. Howard did little
to bolster bilateral ties when he cautioned Megawati late last
year over her criticism of the U.S. bombardment of Afghanistan.

While Australia's pro-U.S. foreign policy may cast a long
shadow, it should not obscure the real need to repair bilateral
links with Jakarta. Howard was reminded of just how precarious
these ties remain when the Speaker of the Parliament, Amien Rais,
announced that all 10 parties in the legislature had voted
against the Howard visit.

Howard's "megaphone diplomacy" over asylum seekers has not won
him any friends in the Indonesian political elite, which favors
quiet discussions over public criticism. Nor has the fact that
Australia has loudly condemned Indonesian people smugglers -- and
the asylum seekers who use their services -- yet has accepted
only two refugees of the 600 or so processed in Indonesia and
awaiting resettlement. Howard's meeting with Ms Megawati last
night was a positive development, but considerable delicate
diplomatic work remains.

-- The Sydney Morning Herald