By Benny YP Siahaan,
The Jakarta Post. Sat, 05/19/2012 12:19 PM
The Timor Leste government has invited President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Dili on May 20 to attend the 10th anniversary of the country’s independence. President Yudhoyono is also scheduled to attend the inauguration of president-elect, José Maria Vasconcelos, known as Taur Matan Ruak, who replaces Ramos Horta.
The question is how strategic is the visit that Yudhoyono should take time out of his tight schedule to fulfill the invitation?
Under the Yudhoyono administration, Indonesia and Timor Leste have become very close neighbors, a rather ironic scenario for both countries given their troubled history when East Timor (Timor Leste’s former name) was the 27th province of Indonesia. The current relationship is focused not only on reconciliation but also it has reached the level of a special relationship, at least between the ruling elites in the two countries.
Therefore, Yudhoyono’s trip to Dili can be viewed from this perspective, although there are a number other strategic implications of the visit.
First, for Indonesia, the presence of its President will not only foster closer relations between the two nations but it will also win respect from both Timor Leste and the international community in showing it is open-minded and in its determination to attend the anniversary of independence of its former province.
Second, Yudhoyono’s presence at the inauguration of President-elect Taur Matan Ruak also has strategic significance for the continuation of good ties between Indonesia and Timor Leste. Although Matan Ruak was a former freedom fighter, he is a statesman who envisions the importance of Indonesia to Timor Leste. Matan Ruak once said that Indonesia would be the first country he would visit as president. This shows the significance and future direction of an Indonesia - Timor Leste relationship under President Ruak.
Third, the President’s agenda will include a visit to the Santa Cruz cemetery and the Seroja Heroes’ Cemetery in Dili. There are 13 Indonesian heroes’ cemeteries scattered across Timor Leste, most of which are not well maintained; indeed, many are in poor condition. Thus far, maintenance of those heroes’ cemeteries falls under the auspices of the Indonesian Embassy in Dili, which lacks adequate funding from the capital.
The current restoration and relocation efforts to one or two locations have been stymied due to funding and regulatory issues. One of the reasons is that the cemeteries in Timor Leste are the only ones that Indonesia has overseas, so there is no precedent for the arrangements. It is hoped that Yudhoyono’s visit will provide a momentum for improving respect for the heroes, both military and civilian. Of course, at the beginning we should not expect the cemeteries to be better than the Dutch heroes’ cemeteries in Indonesia. But if we can do it, then why not?
Fourth, in terms of economy, Timor Leste is now a country rich in oil and gas, with 95 percent of its state revenues generated from these commodities. At present, a number of countries have been exploring the oil resources in Timor Leste, including Malaysia. However, given the very cordial relationship between Jakarta and Dili, it is unfortunate to see Indonesia’s current role in Timor Leste’s oil sector restricted to the level of selling fuel to Timor Leste. Indeed, Indonesian fuel in Timor Leste is in great demand given the fact that it is much cheaper than the oil imported from Australia, not to mention the easy transportation of fuel from Indonesia.
The President will reportedly be accompanied by his ministers but without the presence of businesspeople, despite the fact that 10 years after independence, Timor Leste has emerged as a “land of opportunities”. Although currently, Indonesia is a major trading partner, providing almost 50 percent of Timor Leste’s imports, sadly very few Indonesian firms invest in the country; so far, only Pertamina and Bank Mandiri have branch offices there. In view of other countries like China, Singapore and Malaysia, which have begun investing in Timor Leste, causing its economy to thrive, it would be ironic if in the future it was Timor Leste that invested in its former master, Indonesia.
Fifth, Timor Leste’s application for full ASEAN membership will be a sensitive and burdensome issue for the two countries. Indeed, during its rotating term as ASEAN chair in 2011 Indonesia gained an image as the staunchest advocate of Timor Leste’s quest for ASEAN membership. The proposal was not successful, however, due to Singapore’s reservation. Given the strategic relations of Indonesia and Timor Leste, Indonesia needs to continue to encourage the ASEAN countries, especially Singapore, to accept Timor Leste into the regional group.
Sixth, another thing worth pondering is the increasingly developed and affluent Timor Leste. As a neighboring country which shares a land border and — for better or worse — history, we need to question how the conditions of our border and its people there are. Reports show that West Timor, especially among the border communities, continues to be a region with some of the most impoverished people in Indonesia.
It is high time to find ways and means to improve their living conditions; that is, if we don’t want the people in West Timor to follow the example of their brethren across the border and demand secession from Indonesia. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
The writer is an alumnus of Tsukuba University in Japan.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/19/strategic-implications-yudhoyono-s-visit-timor-leste.html
The Jakarta Post. Sat, 05/19/2012 12:19 PM
The Timor Leste government has invited President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Dili on May 20 to attend the 10th anniversary of the country’s independence. President Yudhoyono is also scheduled to attend the inauguration of president-elect, José Maria Vasconcelos, known as Taur Matan Ruak, who replaces Ramos Horta.
The question is how strategic is the visit that Yudhoyono should take time out of his tight schedule to fulfill the invitation?
Under the Yudhoyono administration, Indonesia and Timor Leste have become very close neighbors, a rather ironic scenario for both countries given their troubled history when East Timor (Timor Leste’s former name) was the 27th province of Indonesia. The current relationship is focused not only on reconciliation but also it has reached the level of a special relationship, at least between the ruling elites in the two countries.
Therefore, Yudhoyono’s trip to Dili can be viewed from this perspective, although there are a number other strategic implications of the visit.
First, for Indonesia, the presence of its President will not only foster closer relations between the two nations but it will also win respect from both Timor Leste and the international community in showing it is open-minded and in its determination to attend the anniversary of independence of its former province.
Second, Yudhoyono’s presence at the inauguration of President-elect Taur Matan Ruak also has strategic significance for the continuation of good ties between Indonesia and Timor Leste. Although Matan Ruak was a former freedom fighter, he is a statesman who envisions the importance of Indonesia to Timor Leste. Matan Ruak once said that Indonesia would be the first country he would visit as president. This shows the significance and future direction of an Indonesia - Timor Leste relationship under President Ruak.
Third, the President’s agenda will include a visit to the Santa Cruz cemetery and the Seroja Heroes’ Cemetery in Dili. There are 13 Indonesian heroes’ cemeteries scattered across Timor Leste, most of which are not well maintained; indeed, many are in poor condition. Thus far, maintenance of those heroes’ cemeteries falls under the auspices of the Indonesian Embassy in Dili, which lacks adequate funding from the capital.
The current restoration and relocation efforts to one or two locations have been stymied due to funding and regulatory issues. One of the reasons is that the cemeteries in Timor Leste are the only ones that Indonesia has overseas, so there is no precedent for the arrangements. It is hoped that Yudhoyono’s visit will provide a momentum for improving respect for the heroes, both military and civilian. Of course, at the beginning we should not expect the cemeteries to be better than the Dutch heroes’ cemeteries in Indonesia. But if we can do it, then why not?
Fourth, in terms of economy, Timor Leste is now a country rich in oil and gas, with 95 percent of its state revenues generated from these commodities. At present, a number of countries have been exploring the oil resources in Timor Leste, including Malaysia. However, given the very cordial relationship between Jakarta and Dili, it is unfortunate to see Indonesia’s current role in Timor Leste’s oil sector restricted to the level of selling fuel to Timor Leste. Indeed, Indonesian fuel in Timor Leste is in great demand given the fact that it is much cheaper than the oil imported from Australia, not to mention the easy transportation of fuel from Indonesia.
The President will reportedly be accompanied by his ministers but without the presence of businesspeople, despite the fact that 10 years after independence, Timor Leste has emerged as a “land of opportunities”. Although currently, Indonesia is a major trading partner, providing almost 50 percent of Timor Leste’s imports, sadly very few Indonesian firms invest in the country; so far, only Pertamina and Bank Mandiri have branch offices there. In view of other countries like China, Singapore and Malaysia, which have begun investing in Timor Leste, causing its economy to thrive, it would be ironic if in the future it was Timor Leste that invested in its former master, Indonesia.
Fifth, Timor Leste’s application for full ASEAN membership will be a sensitive and burdensome issue for the two countries. Indeed, during its rotating term as ASEAN chair in 2011 Indonesia gained an image as the staunchest advocate of Timor Leste’s quest for ASEAN membership. The proposal was not successful, however, due to Singapore’s reservation. Given the strategic relations of Indonesia and Timor Leste, Indonesia needs to continue to encourage the ASEAN countries, especially Singapore, to accept Timor Leste into the regional group.
Sixth, another thing worth pondering is the increasingly developed and affluent Timor Leste. As a neighboring country which shares a land border and — for better or worse — history, we need to question how the conditions of our border and its people there are. Reports show that West Timor, especially among the border communities, continues to be a region with some of the most impoverished people in Indonesia.
It is high time to find ways and means to improve their living conditions; that is, if we don’t want the people in West Timor to follow the example of their brethren across the border and demand secession from Indonesia. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
The writer is an alumnus of Tsukuba University in Japan.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/19/strategic-implications-yudhoyono-s-visit-timor-leste.html
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