Letters: US marines in Darwin

Apparently Australia’s Armed Forces are not capable of protecting their own shores and need US marines to do the job for them.

Alexander Downer and former prime minister (PM) Howard would never have allowed this to happen. Once you allow US marines in, they will never leave.

Japan is still struggling with US military forces present on their land, and they want them out as soon as possible, which apparently is never going to happen.

PM Julia Gillard has committed her second political error this year with regard to Indonesia. First she bankrupts many Australian cattle farmers and now she tries to make an enemy out of her closest neighbor by disregarding the Lombok Treaty, which came off the ground in 1996 after hard work and many hours of political discussions between Hasan Wirayuda and PM Alexander Downer.

The Lombok Treaty commits both nations to cooperate and consult with regard to defense and law enforcement, combating international crime and terrorism and sharing intelligence. So far it has worked very well. Gillard knows how to insult Downer — this is a slap in his face.

Allowing US marines on Australian land is also a slap in the face for Indonesia. Gillard seems to have a great talent for disregarding treaties and making an enemy out of her closest neighbor.

Indeed, having the Union Jack on its flag and the Queen’s image on their currency, it would be wiser for Australia to allow British troops in (after political discussions with Indonesia, naturally).

It is public knowledge that the British special forces are the best in the world.

Duncan Graham is trying to point out Gillard’s erroneous political ways (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 23). Without doubt, she is clearly Australia’s worst PM ever.

Many of our Australian friends are brainwashed by their government and still seriously think that Indonesia has territorial ambitions on Australia. This idea is so absurd and many Indonesians are quite amused by this.

The average Indonesian can never nor will he or she ever be able to live outside Indonesia because first of all the different eating habits, strong family ties, cultural aspects, religious beliefs, and most importantly of all, no domestic help.

The difficulties of adapting to living outside Indonesia are tremendous for any Indonesian. Maybe it is a good idea to have Chinese warships in Benoa and their special forces in Lombok. Last but not least, I want to point out a very important Dutch proverb to Julia Gillard: It is better to have a friendly and kind neighbor than to have a good friend that lives so far away.

Lynna van der Zee-Oehmke
Bogor, West Java