[Marxism] Australia's Ambassador to the US speaks about Indonesia

[clintonf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Australia's Ambassador to the US speaks about Indonesia

http://www.austemb.org/speechUS-IndonesiaScty0306.htm 
 
An interesting and highly revealing speech. 
Almost certainly vetted - if not drafted - at the highest levels
of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 
 
A few quick points:
 
1. The US-Indonesia Society was created in 1994 specifically 
as a result of the challenge posed by the solidarity movement in the US. 
It was set up by former US Ambassador to Indonesia, Edward Masters, 
with the support of the Indonesian government and the US State Department. 
Ostensibly set up ?to increase understanding and awareness of Indonesia 
in the United States and to promote a better appreciation of the 
US-Indonesia relationship?, its real efforts were designed to counter the 
stream of negative publicity generated by ETAN activists (now the East Timor
 and Indonesia Action Network) http://www.etan.org . Faced with 
Congressional opposition and a grassroots campaign that had begun 
educating members of the US public about Indonesian atrocities, 
the US-Indonesia Society was described by one observer as 
?a second embassy for Indonesia in Washington since its founding?. 
As it wasn't formally an organ of the Indonesian government, the 
US-Indonesia Society could pose as an independent source of expertise on 
Indonesia. 
But it ran into troubles that were hard-wired into the system 
it was trying to defend, namely the actions of the Indonesian military. 
In particular, every time the Society argued that Indonesia was taking 
genuine steps to improve its human rights record, activists and members 
of Congress would ask the Indonesian government to demonstrate its good 
faith by allowing more openness in the territory. In the case of West Papua, 
the continuing ban on foreign media speaks more eloquently than anything 
Richardson might say.
 
2. The connection between East Timor and West Papua is not human 
rights groups but the Indonesian military. For example, Brigadier General 
Mahidin Simbolon, 
deputy commander of the military region that included East Timor, 
was promoted to Major General and placed in charge of the province of Papua. 
The same militia proxy tactic from East Timor began to be employed soon after 
he got there. 
Simbolon had served at least six tours of duty in East Timor. 
He had led the operation to capture Xanana Gusmao in 1992 and 
was a key actor in the Indonesian military?s covert warfare strategy. 
There are many more like Simbolon. The Indonesian military is the real problem 
in West Papua.
 
3. President Yudhoyono appears, at least by his actions, to understand this 
fact. 
When he won the elections, he appointed Djoko Santoso as Army Chief of Staff 
and took steps to sideline the hardline Ryamizard Ryacudu. 
Yudhoyono has known Djoko Santoso for more than a decade, and in fact promoted 
him 
to Brigadier-General a few years ago. Yudhoyono also promoted his classmates 
from 
the Class of 1973 and two of his brothers-in-law to senior positions. 
These appointments were made to increase his control over the TNI, 
which had under Megawati fallen under the sway of very hardline elements.
 
4. Finally, Australia's defence engagement with Indonesia appears to be 
having the consequence - whatever the intention may be - of supporting 
hard-line elements 
against more moderate elements in Indonesian society. Each time supportive 
speeches 
are made in favour of non-involvement in West Papua, it constitutes de facto 
support 
for continuing military rule there. Each time TNI war criminals from the East 
Timor 
days are allowed to walk around with impunity elsewhere, it constitutes de 
facto support 
for de-stabilisation and counter-democratic tendencies elsewhere in Indonesia.
 
CF
________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism