US gives a long overdue nod to Indonesia

By Ann Marie Murphy

Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Source: http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KC18Ae02.html

Hillary Clinton deserves credit for making Indonesia the second country she visited as secretary of state. Indonesia may be the world's fourth most populous country, third largest democracy, and home to the world's largest community of Muslims, but it is also the most important country Americans know virtually nothing about. Clinton's visit sends an early signal to Jakarta that Washington recognizes Indonesia's growing international clout and builds a firm foundation for future cooperation.

Clinton's trip had multiple goals: to highlight the example Indonesia's transition to democracy sets for the broader Muslim world; to reinforce US interest in Southeast Asia by visiting the Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to lay the foundation for a strategic partnership with Indonesia. Indonesian officials welcomed US attention to their country and recognition of its achievements over the past decade.

Much of the commentary on Clinton's visit has focused on the example that Indonesia sets as a political democracy in a majority Muslim nation. Clinton praised Indonesia's political transformation for illustrating that "Islam, democracy and modernity cannot only coexist but thrive together." Such statements ignore Indonesia's religious pluralism. Yes, Indonesia is home to the world's largest community of Muslims. Eighty-eight percent of its 245 million people profess the Islamic faith, which means that Islam has more adherents in Indonesia than in all Arab states combined. But it is not an Islamic state. Indonesia recognizes Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism as official religions. Most Americans are surprised to learn that Christmas and Good Friday are national holidays in Indonesia.

Clinton noted that Indonesia could help the Barack Obama administration by serving as a bridge to the Muslim world. Many Indonesians believe that their experience with economic development, political reform, and Islamic terrorism gives it the authority to speak to the challenges facing the Islamic community such as poverty, oppression, and "Islamophobia". In a speech in Saudi Arabia, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stressed that Islam was once not only a religion of peace, but also one of progress. He argued that Muslims should respond to current challenges by embracing technology, modernity, and a culture of excellence. US interests are clearly served when the leader of the world's largest Muslim country makes such statements. Indonesia, however, has never played a large role in the broader Islamic world, and many Arabs view Indonesians as second-class Muslims. Whether Indonesia can influence its Islamic brethren remains to be seen.

Divergent stances toward Middle East peace also complicate Indonesia's ability to serve as a bridge to the Muslim world. The US supported Israel's 2006 war against Lebanon and its recent invasion of Gaza; Indonesia loudly condemned both. In Jakarta, Clinton acknowledged Indonesian anger over the actions in Gaza. She stated that the Barack Obama administration favored a two-state solution to the crises and would work hard to resolve what she termed a painful and difficult issue. Many Indonesians have high hopes that the Obama administration will move away from what they viewed as the Bush administration's knee-jerk support of Israel and adopt a more even-handed approach. This may reduce tensions between Washington and Jakarta, but it will remain a thorn in the relationship until some comprehensive solution is reached.

Indonesia has also taken steps to promote democracy abroad. It insisted that a commitment to democracy and human rights be included in the new ASEAN charter. Jakarta has pressured the Myanmar junta, albeit unsuccessfully, to reform politically. In December 2008, Indonesia launched the Bali Democracy Forum, which will bring together over 30 Asian countries for annual meetings to share experience and work out best practices on political reform.

While a boon to US interests, democracy promotion Indonesian style differs greatly from its US counterpart. Most Americans have never lived under anything but a democratic system, so democracy promotion is often an ideological crusade by people who lack an appreciation of the difficulties involved in building viable democratic regimes. Indonesians, in contrast, lived through decades of authoritarianism before embarking on a transition to democracy in 1998. Indonesia's efforts to promote democracy, therefore, are based not only on ideology, but also on a pragmatic appreciation of the benefits. Many Indonesian diplomats claim that what gives their democracy promotion efforts credibility is their ability to tell others, "if we can do it with all of our problems, you can do it too".

Clinton's trip to Indonesia also underscores the Obama administration's intention to pay more attention to Southeast Asia. In Jakarta, Clinton visited the ASEAN Secretariat - the first by a US Secretary of State. Her announcement that the US would begin the process of signing ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the organization's regional code of conduct, was widely welcomed in Asia. Ratification of the treaty, however, must be approved by the US Senate, and it is far from clear whether that support will be forthcoming.

The US and Indonesia both signaled a desire to forge a "comprehensive partnership" that would expand and deepen all aspects of the bilateral relationship and create a framework to advance common interests, such as environmental protection, climate change, trade and investment, democracy, health, education, counter-terrorism, and regional security issues. Precisely how this might evolve is unclear. Despite strong Indonesian opposition to the Bush administration's military invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, relations improved dramatically during Bush's second term. Washington lifted the military embargo against Indonesia, extended US$157 million of educational aid, rescinded its travel ban, and supported the Aceh Peace Process. Officials on both sides agree that US-Indonesian relations are the best they have been in decades.

In a December 2008 speech in Washington, President Yudhoyono called for a "strategic partnership" with the US, but Indonesian officials have backed away from this term in favor of "comprehensive partnership". Indonesians remember with gratitude US relief efforts in the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami. US restrictions on military-to-military relations and on sales of equipment in earlier years, however, have created a perception among Indonesian defense officials that the US is unreliable and made them wary of over-dependence on the US as a supplier of military equipment. Moreover, Indonesians are staunchly nationalist, guard their national sovereignty jealously and would never permit foreign military bases on Indonesian soil. These factors place limits on future security cooperation.

Environmental concerns, particularly climate change, are issues that both sides see as a basis for strategic cooperation. Indonesia is an archipelagic state that has lost a number of its 17,000 islands to climate change and is one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases due to deforestation. But there are significant domestic obstacles in both countries to environmental cooperation. For Indonesia, grappling effectively with deforestation will entail cracking down on illegal logging and plantation building, both of which are backed by powerful interests. The Obama administration will likely face significant hurdles attempting to secure congressional support for his environmental initiatives. In the absence of significant domestic support, it is difficult to envision how the US and Indonesia can embark on ambitious cooperation on environmental issues.

Obama is widely popular in Indonesia, and his inauguration has created a new opening for US-Indonesian relations. This is not only because he lived in Indonesia as child, but also because of what his election signals about the US. An America willing to elect a man whose father was a Muslim immigrant from Africa and who had an Indonesian stepfather is a country tolerant of diversity and one that lives up to the ideals of equal opportunity it espouses abroad. It is a country that Indonesians can identify with.

Clinton was wise to seize the opportunity Obama's election created to enhance relations with Indonesia, despite the obstacles already discussed. What makes Indonesia a unique international actor is its membership in a number of important global communities: it resides physically in Asia but is part of the broader Muslim world, the developing world, and the community of democracies. Its ability to navigate between these important constituencies in the service of international peace and prosperity makes Indonesia a potentially valuable international player. American attention to Indonesia is long overdue.***

Dr Ann Marie Murphy (murphyan@shu.edu) is assistant professor at the John C Whitehead School of Diplomacy & International Relations, Seton Hall University, adjunct research fellow at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University, and Asia Society associate fellow.

Despite the global economic downturn, we have an unprecedented optimism for the future.

I feel the sense of '70's where then the US was also very nice to Suharto administration (because of his policy to the communists and East Timor). I just hope that the US can maintain its trust to us, regardless changes of wind direction. (As far as I remember, the US then turned cold to Indonesia due to Suharto's raising dictatorship and the end of cold war).

I mean, Indonesia would be too naive to think that America's nice lips last forever..

America : If i need you I'll give you sweets if I don't need you, I don't know you.
Indonesia: Sialan....katanya temen sejati.
Russia : Ahahaha mampus loe ndo, bukanya temenan ma gw aja..






sorry i was bored.

But those days where days of hope and Indonesia became a much better country. Before it was only Soekarno who was known all over the world as a clever statesman. But under Soeharto Indonesia and the Indonesians became a country known all over the world, important member of OPEC, one of the Asian Tigers. And now.....

Politically, those were days where the US still needed Indonesia's role: US military bases in the Phillippines, leftist-Fretilin in Portuguese Timor, copper-cum-gold mine in Papua, Australia was still deep-gripped with its yellow-angst. And, dont forget, document mentioning (very) close connection of Adam Malik and CIA. My father worked in a US oil-company. Those were the days where Caltex' share was more than 70% of oil it produced.

Now, pak londoh, dont you feel the sense of high optimism everywhere ? Yes we're break til kneedown because of multiple problems we faced, but we are now in better track than 70's. In the 70's, many projects were funded by the US through grant from USAID. Now it is different. I see many projects conducted through our own money or soft loans. There are also chance in carbon trading scheme. I am not worry, pak, as long as Indonesian politics stays calm as now.

When I have a look at Indonesia today I still see a great lot of poor to very poor people. The country is rich enough in natural resources to provide all the 240 million Indonesians with a very good life. As long this does not happen, there is something basically wrong in the country. Also a lot of problems that are hitting economy in the whole world are hidden behind empty "retorika pemilu"

I agree with you Opa Lon... something wrong in this country...
Corruptions still rampant, and common Indonesian are not discipline, "seenaknya", "jorok", and seems having hidden "vandalism" nature inside of us... Just look the broken vandalized public facility...
I'm angered to saw grafitti vandalized Borobudur reliefs or on Stadhuis Batavia's wall...
I think Indonesian should be "educated" to be more civilize and behave better, especially on that public facility issue.

However I also share optimism that somehow we can do better in the future. Its no use to frustated with current conditions without doing something.


Okay... Obama praised Indonesian religious tolerance.



The Jakarta Post, President Obama touts Indonesia in speech to the Muslim world

sorry for long reply Meneer Londoh (how is Solo now? I miss it much!). This writing in Jakarta Post may answer what went wrong in Indonesia, written by an Indian engineer/businessman. I highlight some important part.

During the Spanish Inquisition, thousands of Muslim and Jews were prosecuted and driven out. so i don't know what he meant by religious tolerance during the inquisition.

I've always view Indonesia as potential powerhouse in south-east asia. if run properly, Indonesia would've been one of the top economic and military power in asia pacific. there's vast resources, they have vast hardworking manpower, and they have a lot of room to grow.

There is great potential for the future.

[quote name='Majapahitans' date='Jun 5 2009, 11:56 AM' post='4248428']
I agree with you Opa Lon... something wrong in this country...




Something wrong alright, your government is being controlled from the white house and the houses of europe. Remember the Duch were there for along time.
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Good article.

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