US President Barack Obama will arrive in Jakarta next Tuesday for a three-day visit to Indonesia, with observers saying the trip is unlikely to result in tangible accomplishments, but the two-country sojourn could be an important step in restoring US influence in the region.
The contents of the so-called US-Indonesia strategic partnership agreement to be launched during the visit are still unclear, but the economy, terrorism and climate change are all expected to dominate Obama’s agenda in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Obama is the first US president in a decade to travel to Southeast Asia for anything other than a regional summit, a move administration officials say reflects his efforts to strengthen relationships with smaller, emerging nations.
“There are a number of important middle powers, countries such as Australia and Indonesia who are significant players,” Jeff Bader, the president’s senior adviser for Asia, told The Associated Press.
Obama will visit Kalibata Heroes Cemetery on March 23 and then meet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, followed by a state dinner at the State Palace. The following day, he is scheduled to deliver a speech to business leaders, University of Indonesia scholars and members of the Indonesian Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) and will fly to Bali afterwards, according to information provided by Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal and other sources.
In Bali, he will meet with civil society leaders and hold an event promoting the role civil society plays in Indonesia’s emerging democracy.
Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, suggests that US President Barack Obama spend some of his time in Indonesia to meet with representatives of Muslim organizations in the country.
“President Obama must use this opportunity to show his good intentions. We hope the US Embassy and Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry will arrange a meeting between President Obama and Muslim organizations here,” Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said.
Din called for other Muslim organizations in Indonesia to embrace Obama’s visit.
Hard-line Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia has objected to the visit, saying it will stage mass rallies against Obama on his arrival.
Veterant right activist, Hendardi, meanwhile, urged Obama to press the Indonesian government to come clean on past human rights violations, including the murder of fellow activist Munir Said Thalib.
“[Obama] can’t ignore human rights violations just because the US has economic and political interests in Indonesia,” he said.
With regards to climate change, Indonesia expects the US to lead the international community in producing a climate change treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol at the meeting in Mexico later this year.
Indonesian forestry officials were in Washington last week trying to develop a cooperation between the two countries.
Forestry Ministry official Wandojo Siswanto told Reuters that he hoped Obama’s visit next week would result in a bilateral agreement to enhance US-Indonesian forest management collaboration.
Indonesian officials said a quick injection of international aid funds were needed to help developing countries such as Indonesia tackle global warming. “We believe that the [UN-led] negotiations cannot move forward without the leadership of the US,” they said.
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