Indonesia warned against xenophobia

The Straits Times, May 25, 2007
By Devi Asmarani, INDONESIA CORRESPONDENT


Newspaper blames inferiority complex for resistance to pacts with S'pore


JAKARTA - AN INDONESIAN newspaper has warned the country about its growing xenophobic tendency as debate continues over the recent signing of extradition and defence treaties with Singapore.

In its editorial yesterday, the Jakarta Post cited this 'xenophobic' tendency as a factor behind the vehement resistance to the accords.

It said: 'Like it or not, this nation is becoming more and more xenophobic, if not paranoid of foreigners. If we are honest with ourselves, we will find this is because we cannot cope with our growing inferiority complex in the face of more advanced nations.'

The English-language daily urged the Indonesian government to reach out more to the public to explain the significance of the two treaties signed in order to overcome mounting opposition to the accords.

It said Singapore, too, needs to approach the Indonesian audience with 'honest' explanation on the treaties' implications.

The newspaper noted that many politicians and public figures have come out against the defence agreement without thoroughly studying it.

'There is strong impression that House lawmakers will reject the defence treaty just to show they care about the nation while they continue to lose credibility among the people,' it said.

The paper said neighbours will respect Indonesia only 'when we can prove we are able to play a leading role in improving security and prosperity in the region while treating individual countries equally'.

Indonesia and Singapore agreed to ratify the deals signed last month as a package, but Indonesian lawmakers want to ratify the extradition treaty first before the defence cooperation agreement.

The Indonesian government is scheduled to present the treaties to the legislature on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Riau islands provincial administration has raised objections to the use of its land for joint military exercises under the defence treaty.

'We earlier supported the exercise because we were under the impression that it was not going to be dangerous and would involve only light training such as air and sea patrols,' said governor Ismeth Abdullah.

'Then we learned that war equipment would be used during the exercise,' he said, adding the activities could disrupt business and the investment climate in the province.

His administration should have been involved in the discussion to determine the areas for the military exercises, he said, or at the least be compensated for it.