Indonesia going back on its word over defence pact

ST Forum, The Straits Times, May 28, 2007


I READ news from Indonesia that its parliament may refuse to ratify a defence pact with Singapore if its provisions are against Indonesia's interests and that the governor of Riau Islands province, south of Singapore, has objected to any war exercises by the Singapore military there as part of the defence cooperation pact.

The defence pact was negotiated in tandem with an extradition treaty and signed as a package. Singapore made a political decision to ratify the extradition treaty on the basis of a balance of benefits the defence cooperation pact offers Singapore.

But even before the saliva has barely dried and significantly after Singapore has signed on the dotted line of the extradition treaty, Indonesia pulled out a rabbit out of the hat and sought to back out of the defence cooperation treaty by giving the excuse that they wanted to vary certain provisions in the agreement. This is so ungentlemanly after all the media expressions of goodwill and wide smiles.

I am glad we made it very clear to the Indonesians that without the defence pact, the extradition treaty, even though signed, is invalid - period. No ifs and buts about it.

Like Indonesia, Singapore's Parliament may also refuse to ratify the extradition agreement if the Indonesian laws and judiciary system fail to satisfy our legal system before we extradite anybody to their country.

I hope we do not revert back to the harassment and opaque detention of Singapore-bound granite barges. But with the level of suspicion and nationalistic fervour on the side of the Indonesians, Singapore can expect more unexpected irritants to crop up in bilateral relations.

Lim Boon Hee