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ec. 1, p3

Indonesia emerged as a modern nation in the wake of World War II, when Japanese troops ousted the Dutch, who had subjugated and exploited the country for centuries. After the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, Indonesia'€™s founding president Sukarno declared independence.

The new republic lay within the American-dominated Southwest Pacific Area and was soon handed to the British-dominated Southeast Asian Command. Allied soldiers arrived in Jakarta in September 1945 and began to occupy major Indonesian cities with the aim of returning Indonesia to its pre-war status as a Dutch colony.

Thousands died in the bombing of Surabaya. Dutch soldiers and administrators returned, led by Hubertus Johannes van Mook, who had run the Dutch East Indies government in exile from Brisbane during the war.

Your comments:  

As an Australian, let me assure my countrymen that fears of Indonesia one day storming into Oz are totally unfounded. Nor will the Yellow Peril ever occur, as was proven during World War II.

There is only one power in the world possessing the means to invade Australia, and that is the US. No other nation in the world has the same military resources as the US military.

But we needn'€™t fear the US because we are already a political colony of the Americans, where everyone in our government, regardless of political persuasion, abides by their American overlords.

However, Paul Keating was probably the only Australian prime minister who saw benefit in Australia'€™s future being more linked with Indonesia and China than with the US, though of course he wasn'€™t so foolish as to immediately shrug off American connections. Australia'€™s future lies with stronger political-economic ties with both Indonesia and China, though we can maintain cultural ties with the US.

Bimasakti

This is a good article but it is unfortunate that the ideas and analysis are not by an Indonesian.

It would be nonetheless good for Australians to examine Australia'€™s role in the Indonesian independence, the Gestapu affair and cooperation over time with the Indonesian authorities.  

There is always the danger
that the author alludes to '€” that Australian authorities can achieve strong relationships with Indonesia that might benefit Australian business interests and the prosperity of the Indonesian elite, but are otherwise detrimental to the well being of the people and the Indonesian environment.

Jagera

Politicians everywhere play games with human lives. Perhaps a global revolution is required to wash the filth away?

Jay

'€œThe 19th century belonged to the British, the 20th century belonged to the US and this century belongs to China. Invest accordingly,'€ said Warren Buffett.

KDH

Until each human knows within their heart that each daughter is their daughter, each son is their son, each mother is their mother, and each father is their father, then we will let apathy and our cultural foundation codex (others last '€“ if at all) be their last memory of us.

Where are the liberal moderates?

Mark Julian Smith