RI-U.S. relationship

RI-U.S. relationship

The articles as submitted by Ali Alatas in The Jakarta
Post (March 31 and April 1) with all due respect, told us very
little that is not already known. It could well be that from a
diplomatic point of view, it is better to express an opinion that
the relationship between the two countries (USA and Indonesia)
are sound and solid, but perhaps in reality they are far from
that.

The thinking between the two nations on many issues would
indeed be poles apart, despite the fact that the politicians
would have us believe something quite different. I often wonder
why people in high positions must talk on behalf of their nation,
especially in a country like Indonesia that is extremely diverse
in its thinking. We always seem to forget that opinions are often
dependent upon circumstances, thus diplomatically, a politician
may well state one thing, and yet hand on heart he would dearly
love to say and do the very opposite.

Ali Alatas says that "Indonesia" cannot abandon due process of
law and the essential guarantees of democracy to which the nation
has committed itself, but in reality, for that is all that really
matters, could he say that Indonesia internally upholds the
principles of equality before the law and justice to all of its
citizens -- I think not.

One must be extremely careful in criticizing the United States
of America (for all its many known failings), or any other
country for that matter, if the backyard itself is littered with
injustices and legal fiascoes. There is little doubt that
Indonesia could have done a lot more in numerous areas.

The people of Indonesia are saying very clearly that little
has been done over the past five years -- now can they all be
wrong? The other thing of course would be the fact that the vast
majority of people know very little about what is going on in
this world -- and of course the politicians would be the very
last people to relate this information truthfully.

Relationships are basically about achieving a desired
objective, and history has showed us time and again that
governments are only interested in that, with the body bags just
an unfortunate necessity. What it all boils down to is that truth
cannot be said, for the truth is too horrendous to reveal.

DAVID WALLIS
Medan, North Sumatra