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