Why uranium?

Why uranium?

Australian Minister for Mining Warwick Parer's announcement of
Friday, March 15, 1996 to sell uranium to Indonesia is outrageous
and appalling.

Advanced Australia, an active and renowned antinuclear
country, offering uranium for nuclear purposes to a developing
nation is hypocritical and irresponsible. Furthermore, for
Australia's new government to pick this still very controversial
topic as its first major announcement on the subject of
Indonesia, only discourages me on Prime Minister Howard's regard
and treatment of Indonesia and perhaps Asia.

This type of announcement only reinforces Premier Howard's
Liberal Coalition government as having ultra pro-industry and
managerial/ views with minimum regard for sociopolitical
consequences, both domestically and internationally.

I wonder if this announcement was intentionally made by Mr.
Parer for the sake of controversy and attention, or, was it just
due to the lack of available sound analytical intelligence?

I mean, if the intention was to send a positive message to
Indonesian officials that Australia's new government is more than
ever willing to support Indonesia's growing needs, at least Prime
Minister Howard's new government could have picked a much less
controversial topic like agriculture and farming technology or
telecommunications. Both would signify a willingness on
Australia's part to assist Indonesia in its need for further
economic development and growth.

I suggest Minister Parer do his homework more carefully before
announcing any more major Indonesian or international related
agendas. This is not the time for Australia to be careless with
Asian matters. And if Prime Minister Howard's new government
doesn't continue the trend for an outlook leaning more towards
Asia set by the former Keating government, then Australia is
going to miss the opportunity for political synergy and economic
supergrowth with its Asian neighbors.

BAHARIAWAN K.T.

Jakarta