Quiet diplomacy best for RI-U.S. relations

Quiet diplomacy best for RI-U.S. relations

SINGAPORE: A string of disparate events is creating an
unwelcome new source of uncertainty in Indonesia, to add to the
outer provinces' sectarian and secessionist troubles. While the
security situation in Aceh, the Maluku islands, the Timor border
and West Papua is fraught, there is not a strong likelihood of
precipitate actions by either the rebel forces or the military
and provincial authorities which could disturb the state of
controlled tension.

Not so, the case with the Java administrative spine of the
country. President Abdurrahman Wahid is facing pressures on
different fronts, any of which can develop swiftly into a full-
blown crisis, if neglected. He needs to give the matter his
attention.

The most problematic is the sudden hostility towards Americans
in Jakarta, which has brought the closure of the United States
Embassy as a precaution. As well, the President is under threat
of impeachment by parliament over unexplained transfers of Rp 35
billion (S$7 million) involving Bulog, a state agency, and a
US$2-million (S$3.5-million) donation from the Sultan of Brunei.
His critics -- chief among them People's Consultative Assembly
chairman Amien Rais -- have capitalized on this and
dissatisfaction over inadequacies in governance to demand his
resignation.

This prompted an unusual defense by Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, who ordered elements of her own party to stop
hounding Abdurrahman. She has fastidiously kept above the fray
while controversy swirled around the President over a whole host
of issues, so interest is piqued.

Was she implying that Abdurrahman has lost more support than
is commonly supposed, or was she hinting she was not ready or
confident enough to step into the breach, should it occur?

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung has advised
Abdurrahman to respond to the resignation calls by improving his
Cabinet coordination and policy setting, and not to dare
parliamentarians to start impeachment proceedings, as he has
done. The Speaker has said he wants "Gus Dur's government to
serve out its term until 2004", an endorsement the President
should take care not to fritter away.

But the matter at hand that calls for an executive decision is
Indonesia's relationship with the United States. The United
States has sway over Indonesia's future course: It is an
important provider of aid and investments, it has overtaken Japan
as the main market for Indonesian non-oil exports, and it has the
decisive word over International Monetary Fund disbursements.

It is hard to acknowledge such dependence, but to pretend
otherwise is unrewarding. The U.S.' lopsided role in the Israeli-
Palestinian confrontation, which triggered the anti-American
feeling, is beyond Jakarta's control.

The ill will caused by U.S. Ambassador Robert Gelbard's public
remarks on Indonesian policy is, decidedly, well within either
government's ability to dissipate. Gelbard crossed the line of
diplomatic propriety when he criticized publicly the pace of
reform and the corruption. He has also been accused of trying to
influence military and Cabinet-level appointments.

This is unacceptable, if true, but the Embassy denies the
charges. The two countries have, so far, acted correctly over the
rumpus -- Abdurrahman has resisted pressure from some quarters to
have the Ambassador recalled, whereas the U.S. government on
Tuesday said it stood by its man.

With the public displays out of the way, it remains for the
envoy to be told privately, but firmly (by both sides), that
quiet diplomacy always works better.

-- The Straits Times/Asia News Network