Half-Century of Friendship: Indonesia-Canada Relations at 50 years

Thank you, Ambassador Eki, for your kind words. It’s a great pleasure to be given an opportunity to speak to you this evening. I know that everyone is anxious to take full advantage of the Ambassador’s warm hospitality!

So many people must be thanked again, especially our Indonesian guests, Pak Ali Alatas, Pak Rokhmin Dahuri and Pak Hasjim Djalal, among others, who have traveled such a long way to be with us. Dr. Elliot Tepper, who began planning this conference two years ago, and the Inter-faculty Committee on Asian Studies at Carleton University, Ambassador Eki and his staff, officials from the South East Asia Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Canadian International Development Agency, – all of you have been instrumental in making this symposium an event never to be forgotten. It was a fitting celebration of 50 years of relations between Canada and Indonesia.

How in a few paragraphs to attempt to capture 50 years of diplomatic relations, 50 years of dialogue, 50 years of agreement and sometimes disagreement, and most importantly, 50 years of friendship?

We all know that Indonesia occupies a key position in Southeast Asia and is the fulcrum of Canada’s relations with the region. Culturally and geographically, it links South East Asia with South Asia, North Asia, Austral-Asia, and the South Pacific. Over the centuries, it has incorporated diverse cultures from across Asia and around the world. It is now one of the world’s most historically rich, culturally diverse, ethnically mixed and politically interesting countries. It is the world’s largest Islamic country; the fourth largest on earth by population; it is the founder of the Non-Aligned Movement; a pillar of the G-77; a heavyweight champion of the Organization of Islamic Conference; and the conscience of the G-22. Indonesia is very, very important. It is consequently one of Canada’s most important partners in the region, and beyond.

Indonesia has often taken a lead role in promoting economic development and stability in the region - and actively encouraged Canada’s contributions as well. It was instrumental in the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has engaged Canada as a dialogue partner for 25 years. Indonesia also led the establishment of dialogue among claimant-states of the disputed islands of the South China Sea. We have with us today, Pak Hasjim Djalal, who, with Dr. Townsend-Gault of the University of British Columbia, has contributed to this process with support from CIDA and others.

People-to-People Exchanges

Our close relations have been further buttressed by regular contact between our politicians, academics, and business people. In 1996, Prime Minister Chrétien led Team Canada to Indonesia. The following year, we founded a Bilateral Consultative Forum and a bilateral colloquium on human rights, which, I understand, is planned for this June.

Meetings at the highest levels continue on a regular basis. Former President Wahid visited Canada in 1999, while Prime Minister Chretien met with President Megawati on the margins of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in 2001 and 2002. Last year, Foreign Minister Graham met with Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda at the ASEAN Regional Forum and at the Post-Ministerial Conference. Last June, I had the pleasure to visit Indonesia and officially launched the 50^th anniversary celebration of Canada-Indonesia relations. Pak Ali Alatas was there that day as well, and I’m particularly delighted President Megawati sent him to Ottawa to help continue these celebrations!

Canadian education in Indonesia has also had a very positive long-term impact. The Maple Leaf Club or Calindo, an alumni association for Indonesian and Canadian graduates of Canadian universities and colleges, helps foster good relations among Indonesian businesspeople, public servants, and academics who share similar experiences in Canada, through its chapters in Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya.

Development Cooperation

Indonesia’s large population and tremendous economic potential have made it a major development partner for Canada in Southeast Asia. Canada’s official development assistance (ODA) to Indonesia since 1954 has exceeded over one billion Canadian dollars, with the current annual amount at about $ 24 million. As we heard this afternoon, Canada supports Indonesia’s efforts towards development and poverty reduction by helping build the institutional capacity of the public and private sector and civil society.

Trade

Finally, Canada and Indonesia’s trade relations go back even further than our diplomatic ones. Canada opened its first trade office in 1932. Today, our bilateral trade amounts to more than $1.2 billion a year. It is also the second biggest single destination for Canadian investment in Asia, after Japan. Canadian investment, which includes mining, petroleum and financial services, is valued at CDN $8 billion.

The potential for these figures to increase is substantial. Indonesia’s economy is showing signs of recovery. Its gross domestic product has grown at more than 3% in the last two years. Successful economic and legal reforms can only accelerate this process. Adherence to the rule of law, effective governance, financial sector, and judicial reforms will help to bolster Canadian investors’ confidence in the Indonesian market.

Trends and Challenges

Indonesia is undergoing a profound transformation. It is only a few years ago that Indonesia welcomed democracy. Canada applauds Indonesia’s commitment to democratic practices arising from recent constitutional amendments, including direct elections for the president, vice president and members of the parliament, and the withdrawal of the military from the legislature beginning in 2004.

In 1999, the Indonesian government issued two decentralisation laws allowing devolution of power from the central government to local governments. Canada’s development programme for Indonesia will remain to support their implementation.

In 2002, a landmark ceasefire agreement was signed between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Government of Indonesia (GOI), which could mark the end of an armed conflict that spanned 26 years. Peace agreements have also been signed between parties in conflict in Ambon and Poso. We hope that the cessation of hostilities in these provinces will provide the space for true peace and reconciliation.

The bombing in Bali on the 12^th of October last year demonstrates that no country is immune from the effects of terrorism. Two Canadians were killed in this tragic attack. All Canadians sympathize with Indonesians affected by this appalling incident.

The Indonesian National Police have made tremendous progress in the Bali bombing investigations. The government is also working closely with ASEAN governments to combat terrorism. Canada stands ready to work with Indonesia and ASEAN in this critical undertaking.

As mentioned last night during our reception, our friendship goes much deeper than dollars and rupiahs, and people-to-people links. We share a profound understanding of what it means to be culturally and linguistically diverse nations in a globalizing world. During a visit to Indonesia in mid 2002, I was moved by the often overlooked similarities between our countries. Both are exceptionally diverse; both are models for building culturally rich and accepting societies. As borders become more fluid and the world becomes a smaller place, our two, vast countries will have an increasingly important role to play in setting an example for other countries around the globe.

One area where Canada and Indonesia can more substantively work together is in helping foster dialogue among different cultural and religious communities. To quote from Canada’s foreign policy dialogue paper, recently commissioned by Minister Bill Graham,

Professor Uner Turgay of the Institute of Islamic Studies of McGill University visited Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries to assess how Canada may help promote relations with Muslim communities in the region. Our Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs is examining Canada’s relations with the Muslim world. As a country characterized by a mosaic of cultural orientations, Canadians strongly value an appreciation of Islam and other faiths. We seek to build a common understanding among people of different religious persuasions, as this undertaking can make a major contribution to world peace.

McGill University and Indonesia’s State Institute of Islamic Studies have long seemed to recognize this potential. Over 50 years ago, McGill offered to train Indonesian graduate students. Today, these Canadian-trained Indonesian academics now constitute the core of the State Institute of Islamic Studies. This partnership has brought together Canadians and Indonesians for over half a century; it has created the true understanding and mutual respect that represent the only way all the peoples of this world can overcome their differences.

In this new century, the power of faiths to move people in many parts of the world is increasing strongly. A host of other philosophies and political ideologies - all the “isms” if you like - appear to be discredited and are in any case now unable to motivate large numbers of men and women.

Consequently, as new democracies ‘find themselves’ and emerging economies emerge, the fear is that perceived religious and cultural divides will be exacerbated as we heard this afternoon. We cannot allow this to happen. Working in partnership, by drawing on our experiences as plural and multicultural societies, I am confident that we can be examples for the world of how to successfully bridge the divide between various faiths within countries and between countries.

Conclusion

To conclude, I draw on the words of our beloved Ambassador Ali Alatas. In his last speech as Foreign Minister to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)in 1999, he wisely reminded us that humanity’s “tragedy is not in our ignorance but in the waste of our wisdom.” Ladies and gentlemen, Canadians and Indonesians have much wisdom to share -- politically, culturally and socially. For half a century, we have been building a strong foundation upon which to do so. We now owe it to ourselves to keep doing so in the years to come.