Things have been tense for a while between Indonesia and
Australia, thanks in part to the highly publicized case of convicted drug
smuggler Schapelle Corby, the issue of “boat people” and the Bali process, and
the Edward Snowden spying revelations. Wati
forwarded me an email from Imron Cotan, former Indonesian Ambassador to
Australia, urging her and other colleagues to read a March 25th op-ed piece he
wrote for the Jakarta Post entitled Trust
deficit taxing Indonesia-Australia relations.
It’s an interesting article and urges leaders in Australia
and Indonesia to work together to repair the “trust issue” that has developed
between the two countries, and in effect put these three latest (and distracting)
issues in proper perspective and concentrate on developing a better
understanding of each other’s social history, culture and mode of governance—all
of which is given little attention despite a commonality of proximity and
democracy.
Wati shared with me some correspondence regarding this
article she had with a colleague who is emeritus professor of history at the
University of Queensland. Both Wati and her colleague agree that
Indonesia-Australia relations since the beginning of Indonesia’s independence
have been less than great. Australians have always remained insular and
“foreigner-wary,” and Indonesians have acted unilaterally on issues that at
times had far broader repercussions. As Wati says, “both countries have waxed
hot and cold.” And they both agree that Indonesia should build up its leadership
status among ASEAN nations.
But they also both concede that despite Pak Imron’s status as
“one of Indonesia’s best diplomats,” neither Australia nor Indonesia will
develop a mutually trusting and positive relationship unless it is in the
strategic (economic, political) interests of one or both countries. As Wati says, “My father always reminded us regarding
relations between nations: ‘There are no permanent friends or enemies. The only
thing permanent is self-interest."
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