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