Talk against Gelbard should reduce
JAKARTA (JP): Senior observers urged a toning down of rhetoric against Ambassador Robert Gelbard despite his shortcomings as the coming United States presidential election may signal the end of the American envoy anyway.
Foreign affairs observer and former minister of defense Juwono Sudarsono told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that he has no qualms about his distaste for Gelbard's performance here, whom he described as "a disgrace to diplomacy and embarrassment to the U.S. community".
But he brushed aside further polemic on the issue as the envoy's future here was already in the balance.
"It's a tradition of American governments that after a presidential election, all U.S. ambassadors tender their formal resignations in order to let the president decide whether the ambassadors will be reappointed or replaced," Juwono said.
"One way or the other, the presidential election will determine the future of Ambassador Gelbard's career in Indonesia," he remarked.
Juwono lamented that Gelbard had a long line of disputes with Indonesian officials ever since he was appointed ambassador here, "so he's been quite a disturbance to the government".
However, he said the ongoing controversy over Gelbard will not be a serious threat to diplomatic ties between the two countries and that the relationship will survive.
"They have to distinguish between a certain ambassador to the overall relationship between the two countries, which is good," Juwono said.
Top Cabinet officials and senior legislators have mounted a relentless public attack on the ambassador. Many have publicly accused of him of meddling in domestic affairs. former a narcotics officer and special envoy to the Balkans, has been unwelcome in many circles.
Senior foreign affairs researcher Dewi Fortuna Anwar also suggested that the advent of a new administration in Washington was a good opportunity for the U.S. to replace Gelbard, who is now at home.
Dewi, a special advisor on foreign affairs to former president B.J. Habibie, said she did not want to see a dive in diplomatic ties because of the issue surrounding the envoy.
"We actually want to localize this issue so it doesn't spread and become an anti-American sentiment," she remarked. "What people don't like is just the ambassador himself".
Dewi also lamented that a person like Gelbard, a former a narcotics officer and special envoy to the Balkans, was chosen for Indonesia where subtlety, tact and diplomacy are premium.
"We've had many U.S. ambassadors and so far there had been no protest. However, this ambassador has been judged by many as unsuitable in conducting his mission here," she remarked.
In a stinging criticism, Dewi suggested that Gelbard "may be more suitable for small satellite countries of the United States" and not for "a big country like Indonesia which is proud of its free and active policies.
Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, Amien Rais also remarked that Gelbard would on his way out after Tuesday's U.S. presidential election.
"This is the first time Indonesia has received an ambassador like Gelbard. Previous and even more recent ambassadors such as Ed Masters, Paul Wolfowitz or Stapleton Roy have always respected us".
"This ambassador, excuse me for saying this, is rather arrogant".
"So I'm convinced that after a new administration is formed in Washington, whether Bush or Al Gore wins, Gelbard will be replaced".
Political analyst J. Soedjati Djiwandono seemed to take a more lenient tone and instead called on the political elite, especially the legislators, to restrain themselves, saying rash statements were "very inappropriate".(23/45/edt/dja)