Scholars lament Indonesia's poor diplomatic strength

JAKARTA (JP): Political analyst Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo yesterday lamented the current state of Indonesia's diplomacy, which he says is not commensurate with its position as a middle- ranking country in the world.

Sayidiman, a retired Army lieutenant general and a former ambassador to Japan, told a hearing of the House of Representatives that it was time for Indonesia to pursue its diplomacy with more vigor and shed the current low-key profile.

Indonesia's international achievements, including the hosting of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in 1992 and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 1994, have elevated its stature in international diplomacy, Sayidiman said during a hearing with Commission I, for foreign affairs.

"We should not underestimate ourselves by maintaining a low profile. We are now one of the world's middle-power countries, and we have to show it," he said.

Sayidiman, who once headed the military's think-tank, the National Defense Institute, said that to meet the demands of international diplomacy, Indonesia needs to strengthen its diplomatic corps.

"The problem is that we do not have enough qualified diplomats, not even when including those supplied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he said.

Sayidiman said the problem goes back to the question of the quality of general education, and in this he lamented the small budget allocated by the government for education.

Education covers less than 8 percent of the whole government budget this year; in contrast, Malaysia allocates 15 to 21 percent of its budget for education, he noted.

"How can we expect to produce qualified diplomats from such a small education budget?" he said.

Sayidiman said Indonesia must allocate more funds towards diplomatic lobbying campaigns abroad, something similar to what the Jewish community does in the United States.

"It would be effective although expensive," he said.

He stressed that the burden of strengthening Indonesian diplomacy should not fall entirely on the shoulders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

There has to be a political will from all parties, including the government and the House of Representatives, to recognize the importance of diplomacy for the country, he said.

Another speaker at the hearing, Dewi Fortuna Anwar of the Center for Information and Development Studies, suggested a cheaper but more effective way to strengthen diplomacy: By encouraging diplomats to be more active.

In countries where Indonesia faces strong criticism such as Australia and the United States, the diplomats should participate in dialogs with local organizations.

"Our diplomats still tend to shun these activists when they should be taking part in discussions with them," she said.

Indonesian diplomats should join in with or even sponsor forums, not only to hear views of other people, but also to present the government's policies, she said.

Indonesia could also cooperate with student forums abroad to hold such dialogues, she added. (01)