President gives Australia the miss

President gives Australia the miss

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday said he
would bypass Australia on his numerous trips abroad in the coming
months, chiding Canberra of being "childish" in handling its
relationship with Jakarta.

Speaking to journalists aboard an Air Force Boeing 707 on his
way back from a summit of East Asian leaders in Manila,
Abdurrahman said he would continue with "round the world" trips
to lure investors and raise Indonesia's credibility abroad in the
next few months.

However, the President balked and launched a stinging attack
when queried over plans to visit Indonesia's southern neighbor.

He indicated his reluctance to go to Australia saying he would
only go if Australia's leaders showed a more mature attitude to
Indonesia.

"Regarding a visit to Australia, it would depend on whether
Australia has ceased its childish attitude towards Indonesia. If
not then I won't go there" he said.

Abdurrahman stressed that Indonesia would like to forge
cordial relations with Australia, however it all depended on the
attitude of the government there.

"We want to have good relations but it's really up to them.
Are they still acting childish with us?" he queried.

Anti-Australia sentiment in Indonesia reached its peak
following the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot in East Timor.

Many perceived Australia, one of the first countries to
recognize East Timor's integration into Indonesia and the only
country in the world to sign a legal treaty on the matter, as
being overly zealous in trying to see it breakaway from the
republic.

In particular, many felt annoyed about the widescale protests,
boycotts and other insults against Indonesia following the East
Timor vote.

The anti-Indonesian protests and boycotts were retaliated with
rowdy protests against Australian government representative
offices here with threats of boycotts also being mentioned.

The Indonesian government even decided to postpone for a brief
period the departure of its new ambassador to Australia.

While deciding to skip Australia in the near future, he said
he had no problem visiting Papua New Guinea.

"Of course, sometime in the near future," he said when asked
by a journalist.

World Tour

During the media briefing, Abdurrahman revealed his plans to
continue a "world tour" despite criticism that he should first
resolve various matters before traveling abroad.

Abdurrahman has now spent about half of his first 40 days in
office visiting 13 countries.

On Wednesday he will again leave the country -- this time for
a three-day state visit to China.

He brushed off criticism about his frequent flights abroad
saying that it was necessary as it was the most effective way to
restore international market confidence in Indonesia.

He contended that Indonesia would only be able to lift itself
out of the economic crisis if there was a steady stream of
international investment.

"We need massive investment in our country. Therefore my duty
in this first year is to go around the world," Abdurrahmam
contended.

Of his departure to Beijing on Wednesday, Abdurrahman said
that the decision to make it his first official state visit was
due to China's decisive role in Asia.

"This is very important because although relations between
Indonesia and China are quite good, there are also various
complications," said the President without elaborating.

China openly expressed its concern over nationwide rioting in
May last year which resulted in many Indonesians of Chinese
descent fleeing abroad.

Abdurrahman has stated several times that he would like to see
all those who fled return and help to build the country. He also
underlined that he would not tolerate ethnic or religious
discrimination.

Following China, it is expected that Abdurrahman will have his
longest stay in Indonesia since becoming president.

He said that he would like to visit India after the end of
Idul Fitri, or Lebaran as it is often referred to here,
festivities in January.

"I think the visit to India can be after Lebaran, when exactly
I don't know yet as it is still being discussed between the
Indian Embassy and our representative in New Delhi," he said
while stressing that India was a regional power.

He further added that he still did not know yet whether the
state visit would be part of a series of visits which included
Pakistan.

"In my view there should be an official visit to Pakistan,
just like the two or three day visit to India," Abdurrahman
remarked.

"For me India and Pakistan should both be equally
respected". (prb/mds)