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