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Indonesia and Australia, forever soulmates
History shows that hundreds of years ago, sailors of today’s South Sulawesi used to travel to Australia’s nothern part and trade sea snails or sea cucumbers with indigenous Australians.
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Indonesia and Australia are destined to be proximate. Thus there is always a chance for the two sides to be reciprocally engaged in neighboring matters. Before Indonesia and Australia came to be, the two were naturally linked. (Shutterstock/File)
O
ne of the best things I did regularly in my spare time in Sydney was to take my son to Lionel Bowen Library, a local library with university-caliber facilities. The library is walking distance from the Maroubra office of the Indonesian Consulate General, where I used to work.
In one visit to the library, which houses a sizable collection on Indonesia, I came across an Indonesian movie, in DVD format, titled Belahan Jiwa (Soulmates). Directed by Sekar Ayu Asmara and starring Dian Sastrowardoyo, among others, it won a New York Film award in 2007. Watching the movie inspired me to ponder an intriguing question: Are Indonesia and Australia belahan jiwa?
That is not an easy question to answer. However, having had the opportunity to serve as the Indonesian consul general in Sydney for more than three years, I have strong conviction that the two countries are indeed belahan jiwa.
First and foremost is the shared and unshakable fate since time immemorial that Indonesia and Australia are destined to be proximate. Thus there is always a chance for the two sides to be reciprocally engaged in neighboring matters. Before Indonesia and Australia came to be, the two were naturally linked.
