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Indonesian Reform Process Grinding to a Halt
March 26, 2002
Summary
Recent actions by the Indonesian government and military indicate that reform in the country has come to a standstill. Only stronger condemnation from the international community will change this situation, but foreign governments will continue to turn a blind eye to many of Indonesia's transgressions as long as their own interests remain secure.
Analysis
An Indonesian court March 20 acquitted three militiamen for the murder of a U.N. peacekeeper from New Zealand. The decision cast a shadow over Jakarta's claims that it will pursue justice for atrocities committed during the 1999 independence referendum in East Timor. The ruling is the latest incident to show that, despite expectations when Megawati Sukarnoputri became president last year, the government and military are abandoning true reform.
The international community, including the United States and Indonesia's Southeast Asian neighbors, has repeatedly called for an end to corruption in the country. However, these players put their own interests in the economic and strategically important country ahead of real reform. As a result the anti-corruption campaign in Indonesia will fall by the wayside as the military ascends in power -- echoing the era of oppressive former President Suharto.
Indonesia has proven oil reserves of 5 billion barrels and proven natural gas reserves of 92.5 trillion cubic feet, according the U.S. Department of Energy. Many important trade routes run along Indonesia's coast, linking the Pacific and Indian oceans.
With a population that is 90 percent Muslim, the country is on Washington's list of top priorities in its war against terrorism because of the threat of extremists operating or seeking sanctuary in Indonesia. In the end foreign governments with a stake in Indonesia care more about whether the country is stable than how, and by what means, that stability is achieved. And the list of signs that reform is slowing grows daily.
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Indonesian Reform Process Grinding to a Halt . . .