Ed Masters: (JP/Yenni Djahidin)

As Barack Obama settles into his new job, many people are wondering how his presidency will affect US relations with Indonesia, given that he spent four years of his childhood in Indonesia.

I think we will see a strengthening in relations, but it’s not going to happen immediately,” former US ambassador to Indonesia Edward Masters told The Jakarta Post.

Obama has many problems to deal with, domestic and foreign, and Indonesia was not among them, he said.

“It’s an opportunity for the United States to work closely with a moderate Muslim country that is a democracy,” he said. “We were told by Obama’s staff that he does still has a fond feeling toward Indonesia and he wants to visit.”

Masters is also working on better international relations between the two nations – he has even received honors from the Indonesian government for his work in promoting relations between the two countries. One of his main projects is pushing for opportunities for more Indonesian students to study in the United States.

“I’m not in favor of telling Indonesia what to do,” he said. “I would much rather train Indonesians, bring them to this country, let them learn and go back home to put what they learn into practice in a way that is adapted to Indonesia. What works here won’t necessarily work there.”

Masters and his wife Allene are prominent figures in Washington who promote and defend Indonesia. In 1994, he founded the United States–Indonesia Society (USINDO), whose donors include Freeport McMoran, ExxonMobil and General Electric, because, Masters said, they realize good US–Indonesia relations are good for their business interests.

“A lot of Americans don’t know much about Indonesia. There are new members of Congress we need to work with. There are new committee chairs, Democrats who have taken power from Republicans.”

Masters said when he gave a speech recently in Iowa the audience knew nothing about Indonesia, and were surprised to learn of its large Muslim population.

Born in Ohio in 1924, Masters came to Indonesia as a political officer at the US Embassy in Jakarta in 1964.

It was not his choice. He was hoping for a posting in Europe after having assignments in India and Pakistan, but he was told Jakarta needed people: The 1960s were difficult for US–Indonesian relations because President Sukarno was not friendly toward the United States.

“I think Sukarno was opportunistic. He was negative toward the United States. He had embarked on a revolution and saw the communists as a more disciplined force to take over Indonesia and continue the revolution when he would no longer be around.”

Masters has good memories of the “very nice and friendly” Indonesians, although they came under pressure once Sukarno gave a very strong speech attacking the United States. “Most people wouldn’t come to our parties.” he said.

At that time, he said, the United States did not deal with future president Soeharto because he spoke no English.

“We at the embassy thought he was a good man, but we thought he lacked the experience to be president and that he would be a transitional figure,” Masters said. “We were wrong.”

He praised Soeharto, who he said had brought in US-educated economists to deal with the country’s economic problems.

In 1977, Masters returned to Jakarta to serve as ambassador for four years when had a good working relationship with the New Order president, but not a personal one.

“I never knew what he was thinking. He was always friendly, always available, always smiling. But I was never sure what his true feelings were.”

As for the critics who claim he had defended Soeharto’s human rights records, Masters said criticizing Indonesia publicly was not very effective.

“Some people in Washington would give public speeches saying Indonesia must release these people [political prisoners] immediately. When that happened, the process would stop because Indonesia would not want to appear to be acting in response to US pressure or other forces.”

He said he would usually raise human rights issues with Soeharto during talks about the communist political prisoners on Buru Island.

“Our position was that you should give them due process, it’s kind of like what we’re hearing about Guantanamo Bay now,” Masters said. The former ambassador said he believed those encounters had had an effect on Soeharto, helping to speed up the process.

Ed and Allene Masters now live on Maryland’s eastern shore near the charming town of St. Michaels, which counts former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and former vice president Dick Cheney among its residents.

The Masters live in a cozy house with a view of Chesapeake Bay. They travel two hours to Washington to attend events and occasionally stay in their condo there.

“Our daughter moved to Abu Dhabi and left her dog behind,” Allene said, explaining their decision to live on an island – dogs are not allowed in the condo.

Masters, who visits Indonesia at least once a year for the USINDO board meeting, said he may retire soon.

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