The need to improve Indonesia's image in the world community
The need to improve Indonesia's image in the world community
By Budiono Kusumohamidjojo
JAKARTA (JP): The Research and Development Board of the
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a workshop on Dec. 11
to seek ways to improve Indonesia's image abroad, which is
believed to be suffering in the international community.
The issue was approached from several perspectives such as in
the news media, defense and security, and diplomacy.
Dr. Johan Syahperi, the chairman of the board, stressed in his
opening address the urgency of the issue due to the changing
international situation, particularly in terms of its actors,
global circumstances and fundamental issues debated among
nations. There is no doubt that Indonesia has to build a stronger
image if it is interested in playing a decisive role in the world
commensurate to its size and potential.
The speakers and participants demonstrated great enthusiasm
while contributing recommendations as well as criticisms. The
situation could not be discussed in black and white terms
however. Major General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono gained applause
for his open-minded approach toward the issue.
Indonesia has indeed no other choice than to face the
international community and respond to their (often biased) views
about the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to
spearhead efforts toward building a realistic but respectable
image of Indonesia in the world. Of course, the ministry has only
a limited ability to change international opinions.
The workshop turned out to be introspective about Indonesia's
domestic problems and shortcomings, despite the acknowledgment of
its numerous achievements.
Indonesia cannot afford to retain its present foreign policy
stance vis-a-vis the international community. It is in
Indonesia's own interest to improve and develop its image in the
international community. The Research and Development Board of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has done a good job by extracting
an overall analysis from the workshop.
According to the workshop's conclusions, Indonesia has to deal
with a set of issues on two fronts if it seriously wishes to
improve and to build its image abroad. One front lies in the
realm of diplomacy and how we handle communicating to the world
our aspirations and potential. The second front constitutes an
immense task: coping with the country's domestic problems and
shortcomings.
In tackling issues related to our diplomatic initiatives,
Indonesia will have to make extensive use of available
information management systems, telecommunications technology and
public relations techniques. These tools would be invaluable to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct an informative and
enlightening diplomacy.
Nevertheless, it depends on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
organize its own resources as well as to coordinate those of
other related government agencies to collect, process and present
facts and information materials to the world community.
The main objective should be giving the world a better
understanding about Indonesia's domestic problems, and if
possible, even winning more support in coping with them. The
world must also know that Indonesia has ample opportunities for a
better future.
In view of global transparency these days, there is no use in
practicing "hide and seek" diplomacy in which governments pretend
as if every domestic issue is under control or as if certain
crucial problems did not exist. The role of foreign policy and
its implementation through diplomacy in modern times is no longer
limited to merely defending national interests or justifying
certain unpopular domestic situations.
Today's diplomats also are expected to serve as agents of
international dialog toward a better universal human environment,
or in the words of Foreign Minister Ali Alatas: a global civil
society. The building of mutual understanding constitutes an
important part of the task, but such measures can only be based
on open-minded attitudes and sincerity.
Nevertheless, the facts and information to be presented by
Indonesian diplomats can only reflect the domestic reality.
Foreign policy is nothing more than an extension of national
(domestic) interests addressed on the international platform.
But here lies the limits for the expectations of our own
diplomats regarding our domestic situation. It is unfair to
require our diplomats, however brilliant they might be, to
present to the world something which is actually a domestic
heart-breaking quandary.
Here indeed lies our joint obligation as a nation. Indonesia,
its people and its government, has to do its utmost to jointly
build the country, minimize poverty, overcome our own
shortcomings and settle our internal disputes.
Famine, calamities and riots are only the reflection of some
of our problems. As a mater of course, Indonesians still have a
long way to go and a great mission to accomplish. It may all seem
a never-ending process.
But that is the path we have to follow in order to improve and
build a genuine Indonesian image -- one which deserves
international respect.
The writer is a lecturer in legal philosophy and a consultant
based in Jakarta.