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RI, Australia should not miss the forest for the trees
âA very important relationship to me, itâs a very important relationship to my country â in some respects, our most important relationship
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'A very important relationship to me, it's a very important relationship to my country ' in some respects, our most important relationship.' That is how Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott once construed the ties between his country and its neighbor to the north.
For the past few days, that message has been clearly lost as Indonesia and Australia are at loggerheads over the planned execution of the two ring leaders of the Bali Nine who were convicted of attempting to smuggle more than 8 kilograms of heroin.
While the collapse of bilateral relations is a far-fetched scenario, it is obvious that the ties between Jakarta and Canberra are not at their finest.
The recent comment by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop insinuating that Australians might boycott Bali or the statement from Abbot himself who expected Indonesia to show leniency in return for aid that Australia gave for tsunami relief was not well-received by many Indonesians.
To many, the remarks smack of threat. Just as Indonesia and Australia attempt to wipe the slate clean from the phone tapping and turn-back-the-boats pandemonium, the latest fiasco is yet another test of the strength of the bond between the two countries.
There is no denying that the bilateral partnership continues to grow. For instance, two-way trade from January to November 2014 stood at almost US$10 billion, more than a 15 percent increase year-on-year, according to the Indonesian Trade Ministry.
However, the quintessential question is whether the relations between our two nations, in the words of Abbott, are 'very important', or whether it is a tenuous connection between two parties who have no need for each other and who are prone to bickering over the most trivial matters.
For Indonesia, Australia is the third-largest source of foreign tourists, according to government data. Australia is also a place where more than 13,000 Indonesians enrolled to study in 2013.
In addition, Australia is an important development partner for Indonesia with more than half a billion dollars in annual development assistance allocated in the 2014-2015 budget.
Indonesia, of course, appreciates such assistance. Nevertheless, Indonesia would not do so at the expense of its sovereignty and dignity. In this light, many Indonesians resent the notion of Abbott using Australia's humanitarian aid for Aceh as a bargaining chip to trade for clemency for those who traffic illicit substances that have jeopardized the future of Indonesia's young generations.
Abbott's statement was perceived by many as meddling in Indonesian domestic affairs and as such ignited the outrage of people in Aceh and across the archipelago who carried out the 'coins for Australia' campaign to pay the aid back.
The statement turned out to be counterproductive.
Instead of edging closer to saving the convicts, it has driven the Indonesian public up the wall and made them even more emboldened to support the executions.
Some might contend that it is normal for Indonesia, as a much less developed country, to be treated that way.
Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is that in 2013, based on purchasing power parity, our gross domestic product (GDP) was already more than double Australia's, according to the World Bank.
In 2040, Citibank estimated that our economy would be the fourth largest in the world, and by that time our GDP would be three to four times bigger than that of Australia.
On average Australians remain far more affluent than us and their country is indeed a strategic partner of Indonesia, but it does not mean that Indonesia is a country that Australia can brush off.
Moreover, we contribute considerably to Australia's security. First is by cracking down on radical terrorists for whom Australia is a major target, as evident in the Australian Embassy bombing in 2003.
We have arrested more than 900 terrorist suspects, and there has been no major terrorist attack since 2009.
More importantly, Indonesia is also essential in staving off the so-called boat people from reaching Australian shores. In cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are now more than 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia, most of whom see Australia, not Indonesia, as their final destination.
Not only on a bilateral level, but the two countries are constructive contributors to numerous international forums and groupings including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Indian Ocean Rim Association, G-20 and the grouping of MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia).
Therefore, Abbott hit the nail on the head when he claimed that the relations between Indonesia and Australia are very important for both countries.
The ongoing rift only serves to undermine the relations that in fact need to be bolstered in order for them to live up to their enormous potential and significance.
It is not unusual for two close friends to have arguments, particularly when they live right next to each other.
However, instead of keeping them apart, it can help if they better understand each other, get to know what ruffles each other's feathers and figure out ways to patch things up.
It is tantalizing to be fixated on short-term emotion, but for a partner with whom we have a 'very important relationship', we know that we cannot afford to let one bad apple spoil the whole barrel.
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The writers work for the Foreign Ministry. The views expressed are their own.
