Singapore and Indonesian corrupters
Singapore and Indonesian corrupters
The Singapore Embassy's letter to The Jakarta Post on March 6
reminds us that an open debate about Singaporean exploitation of
Indonesian assets is long overdue.
In the decades that followed the embarrassing excesses of
Sukarno's policy of Konfrontasi (confrontation) in the early-mid
1960s, Indonesia's diplomats have taken care to treat it's near
neighbors with utmost civility. Some may say too much.
But for too long, our civility has not been reciprocated. In
this new era of reform, it is time to bring a long list of
outstanding bilateral issues into the public spotlight.
The debate on the extradition of Indonesian corrupters, which
has been ongoing for over three decades, is just one of many
Singaporean actions to have inflicted losses on Indonesia.
Singapore's arguments that they cannot easily apprehend known
Indonesian corrupters is specious. When Singapore wants to arrest
somebody, even without showing evidence or laying charges, they
can and do. Singapore's Changi jail has a special section where
known foreign drug dealers are detained indefinitely. When it
suits Singapore's purpose to detain somebody, they do so. Former
premier Lee Kuan Yew said just the other day that Indonesia
should implement a Singapore style ISA law.
When it comes to the rampant smuggling of refined oil
products, logs, tin and sand into Singapore, the small republic
likes to innocently say things like "Singapore does not condone
smuggling of any kind". This is a half truth. Indeed when it
comes to things that Singapore does not want, such as tobacco
products, drugs or illegal labor, Singapore polices its borders
zealously and effectively.
But when it suits Singapore's interests, smuggling of
Indonesian products is not only allowed but indeed encouraged.
Tens of billions of tons of sand is just one example. Singapore
in fact provides smugglers of products from Indonesia with
special "barter ports" where they don't even need proper ship
documentation to bring ashore their illicit tin, fish and logs.
On the ship's return journey, Singapore exports its unwanted
waste: old cars, clothes, tree branches, furniture -- and even
mud.
When the Singapore Embassy makes statements like: "... the
import of sea sand was undertaken by commercial contractors, not
the Singapore government", the argument is only half true, as it
was ultimately Singapore government policies, contracts and money
that caused the trade to occur. Singapore must therefore share
responsibility for the harm caused by this illegal business.
KARI SAUKKONEN
Business and current
affairs observer
Semarang