The time is right to strengthen RI-US relationship: Envoy

Yenni Djahidin ,  Contributor ,  Washington   |  Mon, 01/19/2009 6:14 PM  |  World

Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world, remains relatively unknown to the majority of Americans, even though the archipelago was mentioned repeatedly during the US presidential campaign last year.

Unfortunately for Indonesia, not all those references were positive, but with Barack Obama preparing to be sworn-in as president, the opportunity to forge closer relations with the US has never been more accessible.

The American Ambassador to Indonesia, Cameron R. Hume, told an audience in the US capital Washington DC last week that the US should strengthen its partnership with Indonesia.

"Indonesia is a democratic country, and the people there seem to take pride in it," Ambassador Hume told a crowd of business people, academicians, analysts and diplomats.

"There is a desire in Indonesia for the nation to play a role on the world stage," he said.

Indonesia's participation in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the G20 developing nations summit and international talks on the global economic crisis were evidence of this, Hume said.

"Throughout past generations we have invested a lot of time and effort into improving our relations so we can pick up the phone to discuss and coordinate matters with them," he said of US relations with other G7 countries.

"If Indonesia is going to be at the head table, don't we need the same kind of relationship with them?

"Indonesia is important in Asia. How can you imagine dealing with Southeast Asia without paying particular attention to Indonesia? It just doesn't compute," Hume said, adding that the Indonesia's population makes up 41 percent of ASEAN countries' total population.

Hume said Indonesia has become more stable in recent years compared to other ASEAN countries, but still needs to address some key problems such as corruption and legal system.

"I am happy there have been gradual improvements in eradicating corruption in Indonesia. It may only be small, but there have been improvements."

At the heart of Indonesia's problems, he said, was the country's judicial system.

Hume said stronger relations between the United States and Indonesia could be achieved and would lead to cooperation in promoting democracy in Southeast Asia, working together for regional security, protecting the environment and boosting educational facilities.

"There are only 10,500 Indonesian students in the United States. That is too low," he said. With university costs in the US being quite high, the ambassador proposed that universities from both nations start corresponding and sharing resources.

"Our universities also need to send more students to Indonesia," he said. Around 100 American students currently study in Indonesia.

In relation to a question about Muslim Indonesia's perspectives of the United States, Ambassador Hume said the US government had good relations with major Islamic organizations throughout Indonesia.

"We are welcome in almost all of the Islamic schools in Indonesia," he said, with only a very small fringe element of Islam in Indonesia resisting American relations.

Hume said there were elements in the Indonesian government that encouraged foreign investment and also factions which disagreed with the move.

"There are oil fields out there (in Indonesia) and factories. Direct investment has many advantages but it's often seen as challenging the nationalist instinct. So, I think some of Indonesia's neighbors like Malaysia and Vietnam have, for a long period of time, had a more determined policy to attract foreign investors than Indonesia," he said.

Hume, in Washington DC for an official visit, said now was the time for the United States and Indonesia to work together, not to preach to each other about what could be done.

"As I said, good ideas are not coming from just one side. The only way good ideas come about is for both sides to work together," he told The Jakarta Post.

At the end of the meeting, the Indonesian ambassador to the United States Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat told the audience he wished to thank Ambassador Hume for his efforts promoting Indonesia abroad so passionately.

"In Indonesia, if you want to be an ambassador, you have to face a hearing with members of the parliament for hours. I think Ambassador Hume would pass that test," he said to a roar of laughter from the crowd.

The discussion was cosponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the United States-Indonesia Society (USINDO).

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