We need to improve Indonesian's tainted image

We need to improve Indonesian's tainted image

M. Ali, MBA Student Nottingham University, United Kingdom

In the world of economics and investment, very much depends on
perception. If people perceive good prospects, they invest. If
they see risks, they avoid investing. For us, the perception of
Indonesia in the West right now is not good. This is unfortunate
because there cannot really be any doubt that Indonesia needs and
will continue to need foreign investment to begin to turn around
from our current economic problems.

It is sad that the image of Indonesia is bad in the West and
probably around the whole world but this is the truth that we all
must face and we all must try to overcome. Over the past months
and the past few years, all media coverage of and from Indonesia
has had a very negative affect. Even if some commentators have
been able to think positively in describing Indonesia's problems
as the "natural consequences of being a democracy in its
infancy", the general perception of the country still remains
negative.

These negative perceptions carry with them the impression of
risk. There is a genuine concern in European nations that
Indonesia is a nation that is on the brink of civil war in which
the hazards for investors are simply too great. What is feeding
this impression and creating the idea of civil war is that media
coverage -- which quickly (and almost happily) covers conflicts
and violence. And so, when the media cover clashes between
different religious groupings of the likes of Ambon or the ethnic
infighting in Kalimantan, it is easy for Western journalists and
correspondents to equate Indonesia's condition to that of a
nation at war with itself.

People in Europe will and do believe in the images that they
see on their television screens. They will believe the gossip and
rumors that are easily created and circulated about Indonesia.
And Indonesia must work hard to counter these malicious rumors.
Extreme positions are not unusual when it comes to these rumors
and often they end up being far removed from truth and reality.

Take the example of the rumor that Indonesia was close to war
with Australia at the time of East Timor's vote for independence.
The word spread and spread until a respected and reputable London
newspaper reported that Australia had plans to send bomber
aircraft to drop bombs on Jakarta. People reading this news in
Europe, which cited "top level" sources, almost inevitably sided
with the Australian position and formed the assumption that
Indonesia must be the culprit and must be to blame for such
"heightened tensions".

Often in Europe, Indonesia is depicted as a violent and
extreme country, one that lacks tolerance and peace. Westerners
often do not understand the multicultural and multiethnic
complexity and only really seem to hear of Indonesia when there
are violent clashes between different ethnic groups.

A very ugly term has come to be associated with Indonesia, a
term that was, in fact, first created and witnessed in Europe.
People now associate Indonesia with "ethnic cleansing" because of
the ethnic clashes that they see.

The huge scale and amazing ethnic and cultural diversity of
Indonesia is not properly appreciated or understood, leading to
false perceptions. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, references to
Indonesia have been "the largest Muslim country in the world".

Newspapers and television reporters use this title and then go
on to talk of "militant Muslims" who are planning anti-American
actions and are preparing people to participate in "a holy war to
defend Islam".

By linking these two notions (a large Muslim nation and
extreme positions), people in Europe are getting the impression
that Indonesia is a potential danger and a threat. "Masses of
fanatical Muslims" is the impression that people are getting
rather than a quite liberal and tolerant nation.

In Europe, people will not see that the vast majority of
Indonesians are not longing for attacks on America or American
interests. They will only see the headline-grabbing demonstrators
or those that unlawfully disturb the peace.

As a nation of predominantly Muslim people, we must show the
world that we are tolerant and not a threat. We must point to the
fact that our President is a woman and show that this is an
example of tolerance and forward thinking. In the extreme world
of the Taliban a woman can barely get an education, so the idea
that a woman can lead a nation is practically obscene to them. We
must show that we are a nation of tolerance, of diversity.

It is true that we have flashpoints, but so do other nations.
Britain has Northern Ireland, Spain has Basque separatists, Italy
has Mafia-organized crime and so on.

Europe is a small continent and Indonesia is a huge country.
People here would not accept Europe's shared blame for the
"ethnic cleansing" in Bosnia but they condemn people in Jakarta
for what happens in distant islands such as Ambon, though the
geographical distance between these places is about the same.

Indonesia is a very big country that is difficult to govern
and control, but the world should be shown that as a nation we
are, in the vast majority, united.

Indonesia is a country of richness in cultures, diversity,
heritage, natural resources, human resources and possibilities.
It is these wonderful things that the world needs to be shown and
led to understand and appreciate. The potential is great and
investors all over the world should be encouraged to participate
in our growth. The image does not have to be all bad and, for the
benefit of all, we should all work to promote and improve the
Indonesian image.