Behind the Australia-Indonesia agreement

John Howard's trip to Indonesia has taken place in an atmosphere of 
growing tension between the two countries, a tension that has now reached 
crisis point. Indonesians have reacted to the arrogant and racist treatment 
of refugees by the Australian Government and the perception that Australia 
is playing an active role as US deputy sheriff in the region and has 
intervened in Indonesia's domestic affairs. His visit also took place as 
worldwide concern over the announcement of US President Bush's "war against 
terrorism", was being reflected in statements coming from many 
governments.

Not only has the Bush administration listed the countries making up its so 
called "axis of evil" but it has indicated that many other countries will 
face either covert or open military intervention by the US Government.

The Washington Post reports that Bush has secretly authorised the 
CIA to launch covert operations against terrorism in 80 countries.

The director of the CIA, George Tenet, has publicly named Indonesia as a 
country that could be used to launch further attacks on the US and its 
interests. Tenet listed Indonesia with Somalia, Yemen and the Philippines 
where US troops are already involved.

In his State of the Union address Bush declared in the most arrogant 
manner: "And make no mistake about it: if they [governments] do not act, 
America will."

Howard's visit to Indonesia followed his attendance at the World Economic 
Forum in New York where his team received further instructions from US 
representatives. He had already enthusiastically endorsed their aggressive 
campaign. Following the conclusion of an agreement with Indonesia on the 
fight against terrorism, Howard immediately informed the US government.

He is reported to have urged the Indonesian Government to resume military 
co operation with the US — obviously for the purpose of providing an 
opportunity for the US to send military forces into Indonesia. Once in, 
they will never leave unless forced out by popular protest.

The agreement between Australia and Indonesia is an initiative of the 
Indonesian Government, which is attempting, thereby, to avoid leaving 
itself open to US accusations that it is harbouring terrorists. However, 
the real objective of the US is not the fight against terrorism but the 
reimposition of colonial regimes Indonesia, the Philippines and everywhere 
else. The "war against terrorism" is merely the excuse for intervention.

Peter Hartcher, writing in the Financial Review (8/2/02) reports 
that "Two senior Pentagon officials publicly have canvassed the idea of 
sending US forces on 'training' missions into Indonesia to work with local 
troops..."

Although the Australian Prime Minister declared that the agreement between 
the two countries will not be used as an excuse for Australia to intervene 
in Indonesia's domestic affairs it does provide for "terrorist threats" to 
be jointly identified while working together to handle them. In these 
circumstances, "This cooperation might involve the defence forces", says 
the Sydney Morning Herald (8/2/02).

Furthermore, an agreement between Australia and Indonesia does not exclude 
US intervention.

As Peter Hartcher writes: "The US depends on Australia for the great bulk 
of its intelligence on Indonesia, and it would also look to Australia for 
political support, at the very least, for any action it took."

Because of the agreement between Australia and the US it stands to reason 
that any information acquired from Indonesia would be handed on to the CIA. 
This could easily play into the hands of the long range plans of the US to 
colonise Indonesia.

When push comes to open military aggression, the Australian Government will 
side with the US and join in any military intervention in Indonesia. It is 
for this reason that Australian military forces are being built up and 
steps are now being taken to call up army reservists and send them to East 
Timor, to relieve Australian forces that are presently tied up there.

Howard's speech to a meeting of Indonesian businessmen reveals another side 
of the US and Australia's interventionist plans. He called for a speeding 
up of "economic reform", meaning by that, the privatisation of public 
enterprises and the fulfillment of the other demands of the International 
Monetary Fund.

The depth of anti-Australian feeling, which has been engendered by Howard's 
botched handling of relations with Indonesia, is indicated by the remarks 
of local political leaders when he visited Jogyakarta:

"Howard should understand that our rejection of him is political. It is to 
let him know that Indonesians do not like outsiders meddling in our 
business. He has always intervened in Indonesia's domestic affairs", said 
Mr Nur Achmad the local leader of the National Awakening Party.

This and similar statements indicate that the boycott of Howard's visit by 
a number of leading Indonesian politicians was not because of Indonesian 
"domestic politics" as Howard has attempted to portray, but because there 
is deep suspicion of the real motives behind the Howard Government's 
policies and military preparations and its "deputy sheriff" role in the 
region.

The enthusiastic support by both the Liberal and Labor Parties for the Bush 
administration's warmongering directed against many countries will 
inevitably result in even worse relations between Australia and our Asian 
neighbours. This is a dangerous, shortsighted and stupid course for 
Australia to be taking.

Just as the Australian Government's actions on the issue of refugees is 
bringing increasing international and domestic criticism so will 
Australia's actions in support of the American inspired "war on terrorism" 
lead to even stronger condemnation. As time goes on the real objectives of 
the US's war will become clear to all and bring a tremendous backlash of 
popular opposition and indignation.