Truth is winner in S'pore-RP relations

By J. Soedjati Djiwandono

JAKARTA (JP): Findings of another autopsy on the remains of the victims of the Flor Contemplation murder case have turned out, in effect, to confirm the justice of the judgment by the Singapore court.

The autopsy was carried out by a third party agreed upon by both the Singaporean and Philippines governments. President Fidel Ramos had earlier questioned the Singapore court judgment.

Upon the communication of these findings, President Ramos has promptly stated that he is now ready for a reconciliation and a restoration of normal relations between his country and Singapore. The President has also stated that he will not make an apology to the Singaporean government, which after all has made no such demand.

Indeed, one would hope that the Singaporean government has not intended to, and never will, make such a demand, which would, again, create an impression of arrogance and self-righteousness.

The gentlemanly and statesmanlike attitude of the Philippines president is to be appreciated. He has kept his word, and thus his honor and that of his government and his people.

It must have been a moment of truth for President Ramos. He therefore rightly deserves a praise and a response in kind by his Singaporean opposite number, not another humiliation and a loss of face, before his own people as well as before the world at large. A demand for an apology would unnecessarily further worsen relations between the two countries than it has been of late to a point possibly beyond repair, to the detriment of both as well as the region.

To be sure, things may never be the same again in the relations between the two countries. But this might as well be for the better. Both the Singaporeans and the Filipinos may from now on learn to develop greater sensitivity to each other's sense of national honor and dignity, and pride in their respective systems and values. And both the Singaporean and Philippine governments may foster closer cooperation in the future in catering for the interest and well-being of Filipino workers in Singapore.

It is only to be expected that normalization of relations is not likely to materialize at once. Some Singaporeans may expect more from President Ramos than just restoring relations between the two countries to normalcy. At the same time, perhaps some Filipinos are unhappy with the attitude of their own president for precisely opposite reasons, which to them may appear like buckling under Singaporean haughtiness. And both feelings of disappointment may find expression one way or another. This, however, would be natural in a democracy. Everyone is free to express their views and one cannot possibly please everybody.

Also, for some time to come, Filipino workers may be reluctant to go to Singapore to earn their living. But according to or depending on the proper working of the supply-and-demand principle, the flow of Filipino workers to Singapore might resume in time, if it is really seen to be in the interests of both countries.

Humility may be the proper attitude on the part of both Singaporeans and Filipinos at this juncture. It is certainly not wise to look upon the present development in the relations between Singapore and the Philippines in terms of winning or losing a fight for pride and prestige. Neither side wins or loses. Truth or justice wins, as it always will.

The writer is a member of the board of directors of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta.