DATE=9/28/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND
TITLE=INDONESIA / AUSTRALIA RELATIONS
NUMBER=5-44350
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Relations between Australia and its nearest
Asian neighbor, Indonesia, have deteriorated sharply
since Australia assumed leadership of the multi-
national peacekeeping force in East Timor. As Amy
Bickers reports from Jakarta, Australia says Indonesia
is deliberately trying to discredit it.
TEXT: Diplomatic and commercial ties between
Australia and Indonesia are under heavy pressure.
Many Indonesians, from government officials to
business owners to students, object to Australia's
leading role in East Timor.
There have been several shooting incidents and attacks
at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, a number of
small protests at Australian consulates throughout
Indonesia, and the local media is full of reports
alleging that Australian troops are torturing
militiamen.
Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia, John McCarthy,
says there is an ongoing campaign to damage
Australia's standing and destroy the two countries'
bi-lateral relationship.
/// MCCARTHY ACT ///
There is truly a disinformation campaign which
some elements in this country are engaging in
which is meant to discredit Australia and
Australia's membership of the multinational
force. I continue to reject it and I tell
Indonesia I reject it.
/// END ACT ///
Australia is leading the United Nations force sent to
East Timor to restore law and order after the looting
and killing by pro-Jakarta militias following a vote
for independence. That has triggered anti-Australian
sentiment among many Indonesians.
Many Australians in Jakarta say they are aware of the
negative perception - a fact that Ambassador McCarthy
acknowledges.
/// MCCARTHY ACT ///
I think a lot of Australians feel uncomfortable.
My own view is that there is discomfort here but
it is not necessarily acute peril.
/// END ACT ///
The tension is also taking a toll on diplomatic ties.
Last week Indonesia's acting Foreign Minister said
Australia had overstepped its authority.
In addition, Jakarta has dropped a bi-lateral security
treaty. The move is viewed as largely symbolic, since
the pact is a broadly worded agreement which simply
pledges cooperation between the two nations.
The tension could take the heaviest toll on trade and
business. Indonesia's government is discouraging
companies from buying Australian commodities,
including wheat, cotton and sugar and meat. It says
it will help firms find other sources for importing
these goods.
Australia's trade minister said Tuesday he is
concerned about that threat. These exports are worth
several billion U-S dollars a year to Australia.
Andre Kadarusman (pron: cad-a-roos-man) is an
Australian businessman who is based in Jakarta. He
says a number of Australian business people have left
Indonesia,returned to Sydney, waiting for the backlash
to subside.
/// KADARUSMAN ACT ///
The unfortunate thing is that Australia tends to
be a little bit aggressive and Indonesia tends
to be a little oversensitive. Whereas in the
past they have managed to have a relatively
happy medium (balanced relationship), now it has
been blown apart. I do not think there has been
a more significant issue than East Timor in the
history of the Australia-Indonesian
relationship.
/// END ACT ///
Indonesian firms have yet to cancel a single contract
with Australian companies. But a trade battle could
heat up. In the last few weeks Australian trade
unions have imposed bans on two-way trade to protest
the violence in East Timor. (SIGNED)
NEB/AB/FC/BK
28-Sep-1999 08:07 AM EDT (28-Sep-1999 1207 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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