---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- THE AUSTRALIAN, October 29, 1999 Indonesia deserves a goowill gesture How Canberra can restore relations with Jakarta by: GREG SHERIDAN The election of Abdurrahman Wahid as President and Megawati Soekarnoputri as Vice President of Indonesia and the new cabinet they announced this week offer a desperately needed cicuit-breaker not only for Indonesia but for Australia-Indonesia relations. Wahid is instrinsically a more formidable politician than Megawati, whose main appeal is that she is the daughter of Soekarno, the father of Indonesian independence. If Wahid through ill health is unable to complete his presidential term, Megawati is likely to make a much better president as a result of having been his Vice President. Wahid's choice of cabinet is also encouraging. The key economic minister, Kwik Kian Gie a long standing adviser to Megawati is an ethnic Chinese who has for years campaigned against corruption in business and politics. Similiarly, Attorney General Marzuki darusman emerged into prominence from the Indonesian Human Rights Commission and although a former leader of the reform faction Golkar, is an absolute cleanskin. He has already pledged to revive inquiries into former president Soeharto's financial affairs and promised full disclosure in the devastating Bank Bali corruption allegations in which $120 million of bank reconstruction money was allegedly diverted to Golkar for political purposes. You can't tackle corruption unless you are clean at the top. By appointing these noted cleanskins to such pivotal positions, Wahid has made a powerful start against the culture of corruption. Also important is the appointment of a civilian as defence minister and a naval officer as armed forces commander. Former defence boss Wiranto's face is saved by being shuffled off to a non military cabinet post, but he appears to be isolated from real power. Although Wahid is saying nice things about the military, because it would make no sense to provoke or humiliate it, these moves are a clear effort to further professionalise and depoliticise the TNI. Most important of all have been Wahid and his economic minister' strong early statements that they are going to persist with the IMF plan for Indonesia, continue with economic reform and continue to seek foreign investment as a top priority. There have been worries about Kwik's orthodoxy, as he has been a stern critic of IMF mistakes and in the past has supported a fixed exchange rate. But since his appointment was announced, Kwik has made it clear that he is with the program that he understands the disciplines of government and is not planning any change in reform direction. There is, naturally, some international doubt about the technical competence of the new economics team, which does not have any government experience. But this is why the early strong statements from Wahid , Kwik and other administration members have been so important. On this score and on the score of their democratic credentials, Wahid's team deserves a tick from Washington, which will be vital in the return of international investment and the resumption of IMF money, which has been stopped until the Bank Bali scandal is sorted out. It is encouraging to see influential Western journals such as The Economist and The Wall Street Journal welcoming Wahid's presidency. The Howard Government should also try for a new start with the new administration. As almost every move Canberra has made in recent months has been marked by maladroitness and mess, there is some hesitation in suggesting it do anything. Above all, the strategic priority should be to convince somebody else to take over the running of the United Nations peace force when it replaces Interfet in East Timor. The Thais were frontrunners for this task but have lost of interest because they are worried about the damage it might do their relations with Jakarta Watch for a possible South Korean role. Greg Sheridan is The Australian's foreign editor ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Sydney Morning Herald, October 29, 1999 UN MISSION Thais See Peace Role For Jakarta by: Craig Skehan, Herald Correspondent In Bangkok Thailand would like Indonesia to be more involved in peace keeping operations in East Timor, Jakarta's new Co-ordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs, General Wiranto, was told yesterday. General Wiranto, Indonesia's outgoing military commander, met the Thai Prime Minister, Mr Chuan Leekpai, and senior Thai military representatives. "(The Indonesians) know the people in East Timor and the terrain," a spokesman for Mr Chuan said. "With their involvement, the situation will probably be easier to address." The comments follow suggestions by Indonesia and some other critics that Australia, which is commanding interim peace-keeping efforts, should have done more to involve Jakarta in planning and logistics. "As I hear it, the (Thai) Prime MInister would like to see Indonesia participation, but how big a role is up to many factors," a senior Thai officer said yesterday. "We would be happy to work together with Indonesia." Unlike Australia, Thailand--which has pledged 1,500 military personnel to the present force in East Timor--has not directly criticised elements of the Indonesian military for supporting anti-independence militias. Australia has said it is willing to lead the full United nations peacekeeping operation, due to take over from Interfet at the beginning of next year, but would welcome any offer by Thailand to do so. General Wiranto said in Bangkok yesterday that Indonesia hoped to see a significant Thai involvement in the full UN peacekeeping force. He did not answer when reporters asked if Jakarta would like Thailand to provide the force commander. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 9 Nov 1999 jam 05:52:27 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
