RI-U.S. diplomatic relations

RI-U.S. diplomatic relations

From Koran Tempo

With regard to the suggestion made by some community leaders
that Indonesia should suspend diplomatic relations with the
United States, I consider that stance to be unwise and very
subjective; a suggestion made emotionally and rather
thoughtlessly.

As we all know, the U.S. exercises great control over the
world. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has extended
financial assistance to Indonesia to help the country out of its
monetary crisis. The U.S. is a big buyer of Indonesia's
commodities.

This country is important to Indonesia, which is now
intensifying its export drive to acquire greater foreign exchange
earnings. Many American tourists have visited Indonesia and if
Indonesia cuts its ties with the U.S., of course, many hotels and
tourist attractions will suffer, causing the country's
unemployment rate to rise. Some U.S. investments in Indonesia
would be disrupted and various business activities in this
country would be hampered.

Some organizations have held protest rallies to insist that
the government break diplomatic ties with the U.S. These people
obviously do not understand well the situation of their own
country and, perhaps, they may not feel the direct impact of
severed diplomatic ties.

On the other hand, such demonstrations are really meaningless
as they only make other people restless, miserable and worried.
This certainly poses a serious threat to security and development
in Indonesia.

PUTRI DARYANI

Jakarta