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The Indonesian-Australian Relationship

Tuesday, 4 July, 2006

A speech by the Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Ali Alitas at the launching of a book entitled Different Societies, Shared Futures: Australia, Indonesia and the Region at the Centre for Strategic and Indonesian Studies in Jakarta.

We all seem to agree that the relationship between Australia and Indonesia is complex, brittle and historically a fluctuating one. It is a relationship between two close neighbors but two very different societies. We also seem to concur, that relations at the government level, and certainly at the heads-of-government level, are now better than they have been for years. At the same time, however, it is to be noted with regret that in people-to-people relations, public perceptions and understanding about one another continue to be plagued with misunderstandings, prejudice and preconceived notions, especially in some sections of the media, the legislature and civil society on both sides. Too often some politicians have resorted to stereotyping, oversimplification, exaggeration and intemperate statements.

It is clear, that we will need continuing and special efforts to overcome this "gap" between government-to-government and people-to-people relations. Here I would sound a note of warning: We should never underestimate the degree of sensitiveness

that still affects our relationship and we should guard against the notion that the present state of our relationship could be overcome by a few summit meetings, no matter how well intentioned. Managing that relationship and sustaining its strength will always be a delicate process, requiring sensitive and sensible diplomacy on the part of both governments, constructive interaction between our two peoples and the constant development of concrete, cooperative ventures in as many fields as possible.

This reminds me of a similar situation we faced in 1988-1989, when then Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and I agreed that while acknowledging that differences in views on certain issues may continue to bedevil our relations, we should not allow any single issue to dominate our bilateral relations as a whole. We further agreed that it was time to stop fussing about the

Indonesian-Australian relationship as such, as if it were a patient of precarious health, constantly needing the worried attention of diplomatic doctors.

Instead, we decided to consciously develop other aspects and fields of cooperation and thus provide added ballast to these relations. Then, when and if disturbances were to occur, caused by differences or problems, which will inevitably crop up between neighbors from time to time, the added weight and enhanced interest developed in a variety of other aspects and fields would be strong and diversified enough to overcome those temporary shocks. I believe that this approach is as valid and viable today as it proved to be then.

As may be recalled, through this approach both sides consciously and actively developed and agreed on a number of accords and

cooperative endeavors in various fields, in trade, communications, tourism, science and technology etc. The Australia-Indonesia Institute was established. Many outstanding issues were resolved such as the delimitation of the sea boundary and the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Agreement was also reached on the establishment of the Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Forum, which is still regularly meeting up until today. Two agreements which drew rather wide publicity at the time but which now have been either superseded by events or abrogated are the Agreement on the Timor Gap Zone of Cooperation and the Agreement on Security Cooperation.

Moving to the regional and international context, Australia and Indonesia can in fact take pride in having established a long record of constructive cooperation which have yielded achievements on such issues as the Cambodian peace negotiations, the establishment of APEC and on various international security and disarmament questions.

More recently, there has been significant and productive cooperation between the two countries in such issues as combating people smuggling, money laundering and international terrorism. The present Australian Government's increasing recognition of the importance of regional associations, as evidenced by its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and its participation in the East Asia Summit, is clearly appreciated by Indonesia.

However, there are still a number of irritants in the bilateral relationship within the regional - international context: PM Howard's claim that Australia had the right to make preemptive strikes against terrorists in other countries; Australia's declaration of a 1000-mile Australian Maritime Identification Zone, covering a large area of Indonesian territorial waters; continuing differences in the political/ideological approach toward the fight against terrorism (despite close security forces cooperation), as especially illustrated in the Ba'asyir case, and the still widespread suspicions in Indonesia about Australia's intentions with regard to Papua are examples of potential friction points.

For a considerable time to come, Indonesian-Australian relations will continue to be colored by two sensitive triangular relationships: The Indonesia-Timor Leste-Australia and the Indonesia-Papua Niugini-Australia triangles. The need here will be

to judiciously manage these two sets of triangular relationships so as to prevent them from becoming potential sources of new tensions and frictions. In this context, the recently established South West Pacific Forum may be helpful in providing a multilateral venue for frank dialog and cooperation, including in the political field, and in serving as a mechanism for preventive diplomacy.

To conclude: there are undeniably differences between our two countries and people; differences sourced in history, culture, socio-political systems and levels of economic development. But this is not unique to Indonesian-Australian relations, it does not apply only to Indonesian-Australian relations. Indonesia and Australia have relations with scores of other nations,

where the same basic differences apply, yet no similar "brittleness" in the relationship is to be found. So, maybe there are other causes we should look for. Is it geographical proximity that tends to sharpen sensitivities? Is there a built-in bias in the perceptions of some segments of our respective societies?

Whatever the case may be, it seems clear that apart from the obvious long-term need to enhance better mutual understanding and appreciation of our cultural differences, there is, in the shorter term, clearly the need to free ourselves from

unfounded and unnecessary suspicions, prejudice and preconceived notions, to consciously develop greater mutual tolerance and sensitivity toward one another's aspirations, doubts and cultural values and to develop a greater sense of proportionality and objectivity in viewing, appraising and reporting on our respective conditions.

There must also be greater awareness and determination, on the part of our governments and on the part of our societies, not to allow the misguided and biased views of a minority, however vocal, to negatively affect the feelings and views of the majority. "Let us not allow one drop of vinegar to spoil the entire bowl of milk".

We also seem to concur, that relations at the government level, and certainly at the heads-of-government level, are now better than they have been for years. At the same time, however, it is to be noted with regret that in people-to-people relations, public perceptions and understanding about one another continue to be plagued with misunderstandings, prejudice and preconceived notions, especially in some sections of the media, the legislature and civil society on both sides.