Cool heads needed as Bali Nine leaders prepare for firing squad

By Ross B Taylor

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has increased the pressure on Jakarta with threats of retaliation if Indonesia carries out its promise to execute Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan; probably later this week.

The statement by Mr Abbott follows-on closely from comments late last week by foreign minister Julie Bishop that should Chan and Sukumaran face the firing squad in Indonesia - and that is now highly likely – Australians may boycott Bali as a tourist destination.

The statements by Mr Abbott and Ms Bishop are understandable, and in the opinion of many Australians necessary, but great care must be taken in raising the diplomatic stakes to this level in what is now a highly charged environment for both countries.

The boycott threat by our foreign minister is in reality not sensible, nor is it going to happen.

Firstly, based on a poll conducted two years ago, almost 52 percent of Australians going to Bali did not know that it is actually part of Indonesia. The remaining 48 percent of Australians probably are able to distinguish between their friends in Bali and the Indonesian president in Jakarta; almost 1,300 km away.

Bali also remains an incredibly cheap and family-orientated holiday destination for Australian families, so there would be almost no impact at all on the number of Australians travelling there, so why even suggest this?

Such comments will also invite Indonesia - currently engulfed in a strong feeling of nationalism - to respond by taking an even harder line on executing drug smugglers, and other cases involving the many Australians who often find themselves in trouble whilst in Indonesia.

Calls from within Australia that we should stop aid to Indonesia as a means of protest is also gaining momentum, but again, such threats are extremely inflammatory and misguided. 

Apart from our aid assisting some of the poorest people in our region, aid funding is strategically directed to also serve our interests. Australian funding for education for example, ensures Indonesian village schools are managed in decent facilities by qualified teachers, and that students are educated with a respect for all cultures and religions. 

It is not in Australia’s interest to have a fanatical Islamic group lead by people such as the infamous Abu Bakar Bashir filling a gap left by angry Australians and free to teach the millions of young people about the 'benefits' of hard line Islam!

Secondly, and more critically, is that Indonesia and Australia need each other despite our cultural differences and respective levels of economic development.

Both countries, from time-to-time, suffer from 'the tyranny of closeness' with all the associated petty neighbourly problems that arise. We can work through these matters as good neighbours should, thanks to the depth of trust and friendship at many levels within our two communities.

With the rise of China, the increasing role of Japan and the USA in south and north Asia, all flexing their muscles, plus terrorism issues, asylum seekers, and massive trade and business opportunities the stability and growth of our region demands close ties and partnerships between our two countries.

The last thing either country needs at this time is a major ‘tit-for-tat’ argument between too deeply unpopular national leaders over the death penalty applied to two Australians; notwithstanding the understandable emotion it causes.

Only last year relations between Australia and Indonesia returned to 'normal' after a particularly bumpy period as a result of spying by Australia on the wife of the previous Indonesian president. 

The current anger being (justifiably) felt by so many Australians should certainly be conveyed to Indonesia forcefully, but with respect and clarity. 

Emotional outbursts should be deliberately put to one side and be tempered with respect and calmness to avoid this issue becoming the catalyst for the bilateral relationship to spiral out of control as President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo continues to desperately try and prove he is as tough as his main rival, and former Suharto strong-man, Prabowo Subianto, amidst collapsing popularity polls.

Despite a fairly positive start to his presidency ‘Jokowi’ is, after just over 100 days as president, showing all the signs of a leader who is lacking in any authority, and who is trapped by a lack of the numbers needed in the national parliament, and lacking loyalty and support within his own PDI-P party, lead by former president Megawati Sukarnoputri. 

Ironically, Jokowi is now following in his Australian counter-part’s footsteps by making some very bad judgment calls and poor 'Captain’s picks' which has seen his respect and popularity within Indonesia, collapse.

The now almost inevitable deaths of the Bali Nine leaders will leave a feeling amongst many Australians, that Indonesia has just taken a giant leap backwards. 

As these two men die, so will Indonesia's humanity as a progressive and evolving nation, and that is not only a great shame, but a very disturbing development in a nation that is still yet to cement democratic rule as its preferred style of government and way-of-life.

 Ross B. Taylor AM is president of the Perth-based Indonesia Institute (Inc)

February 2015. This article originally appeared 17 February The West Australian.