Barry’s snub

The Jakarta Post   |  Wed, 10/14/2009 9:09 AM  |  Opinion

Few can claim to have so many demands on their time as to omit giving imperative to the things they regard as most important. If anyone can claim such a right, perhaps the US president is one of those.

Arguably, a 24-hour day is insufficient for the most wanted man in the world.

But it is that very symbolic sacrifice that shows importance even when faced with the hardiest and busiest of times.

As a nation that lifted itself from the doldrums of authoritarianism to become the most stable emerging democracy in just over a decade, Indonesians are entitled to expect some cheerleading, and more, especially from a country that proclaims itself the bastion of democratic promotion.

The lullaby of consequence, sung in our ears: “Indonesia – the world’s third-largest democracy and country with the world’s largest Muslim population – is of vital strategic importance to the US and needs to assume a global leadership role.” Such was the repeated message over the past 10 months.

A new era of US-Indonesia relations was touted, as diplomats devised “strategic partnerships” between Jakarta and Washington.

But when it came time for recognition, we did not get our expected due.

We were surprised and disappointed to learn US President Barack Obama had chosen not to make even the briefest stopover, even though he will be just 900 kilometers away in Singapore. A less-than-70-minute hop for Air Force One, longer than the daily commute of some Jakartans today.

Many Indonesians will feel in kind, wounded by a snub from a man whom many have almost adopted as their fellow countryman.

Earlier this year in London, on the sidelines of a G20 meeting, Obama conveyed his intentions of visiting Indonesia this year to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Yudhoyono was quoted as saying, “I told him the Indonesian people are awaiting a visit from Obama.”

But the news of the cancellation, or “delay” in politically correct diplomatic lingo, is a letdown that speaks volumes as to the significance, or lack thereof, Indonesia is granted in American foreign policy circles.

Many reasons (read “excuses”) have been given.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said neither country wanted a “rushed visit”.

Some insiders claim Obama actually wants to visit next year so he can spend more time here and take his daughters to places were he spent nearly four years of his childhood.

Be that as it may, the hurt has been done. Even a five-hour pause at the airport and palace would have sufficed. Next year is next year.

The lay Indonesian who knows nothing of protocol or politics will wonder: Two days in Japan, two cities in four days in China, two days in Korea, three days in Singapore, and not a minute in Indonesia?
We all wonder.

Perhaps we expected too much of the young president. The same way “Noble Laureate” was one accolade too much for a man who gave the world much hope, but not yet enough change.

All Indonesians really wanted was to see their Barry gesture a wave and greeting of “Apa kabar?” (How are you). But instead, we are getting “Tidak ada kabar” (No news) at all.

A  |   A  |   A  |    |   |    |    |    |     |    

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.