The President's initial moves

A few days after his election as the fourth President, even before his Cabinet was formed, Abdurrahman Wahid made some surprising diplomatic moves. First was his plan to visit ASEAN countries, Japan and the People's Republic of China. Second was his sensational political breakthrough to open trade relations with Israel.

His plan to visit scores of Asian Pacific countries has an important implication as an attempt to reenergize the regional solidarity in countering the Australian ambition to be the United States "deputy" in this hemisphere (despite a recent denial from Australian Premier Howard). No less important than its political reason, his planned visit seems also to seek recommitment of Asian economic dynamos, like Japan, to continue supporting Indonesian economic recovery programs.

As for his planned visit to China, it appears to have a very special meaning. Currently, both China and Indonesia are under strong international pressure, backed primarily by the United States and the European Community, over human rights violations. Indonesia is facing charges for committing human rights violations, especially in East Timor. Whereas China has faced continuous allegations for human rights violations in Tibet, during the Tiananmen Square affair and against internal politician dissents.

Both countries are in fact sharing the status of defendants against international charges. But the similarity ends there. China, on one hand, is currently one of the most powerful nations in terms of its robust economy, military might and its international prestigious status as a permanent member of the Security Council with a veto right. While on the other hand, Indonesia today is at the lowest ebb in terms of its economic, political and military conditions. It would be a logical idea to reestablish a solid alliance between China and Indonesia, something like the "Jakarta-Beijing axis" of the 1960s, though in a totally different paradigm and under other circumstances.

No less sensational is his idea to open trade relations with Israel. So far there has been no single Indonesian leader that has the guts to risk initiating such a sensitive issue, except President Wahid himself. If a few years back he accepted his appointment as an adviser in the Shimon Perez foundation without any significant domestic resentment, why should he be afraid to initiate the opening of trade relations with Israel?

If there is any side expressing any concern or worries over his bold move, it comes from some Arab and Islamic countries whose envoys have met the President to seek clarification. Despite his assurance that opening trade relations with Israel is by no means opening diplomatic relations, which would only be considered after Israel recognizes Palestinian independence, its political and diplomatic implications can't be ignored at all. Apart from the possible advantages acquired by Indonesia, Israel would definitely reap a diplomatic and political coup by opening trade relations. Opening official relations with a country of the largest Muslim population in the globe is an extraordinary political and diplomatic breakthrough for the Jewish state.

Nobody knows precisely what are the further aims behind opening trade relations. One can only guess that relations would open a direct official communication between Jakarta and Tel Aviv. This opportunity could hopefully be used indirectly to knock the nerves of powerful and influential international Jewish lobbyists, particularly in the United States. This informal line of communication could be expected in some way to influence some decision-making centers in the United States to take a friendlier attitude toward Indonesia and to ease excessive political pressure, particularly when Indonesia is in its critical time to realize its economic recovery programs and political stability. Is that precisely what President Wahid had in mind when initiating his first diplomatic moves? Nobody knows for sure ...

JOESOEPADI

Jakarta