Australia-Indonesia: Demystifying the Debate
By Fay Edwards, Asia Society Australia (@AsiaSocietyAus)
The Australian-Indonesian relationship has taken yet another blow following the recent executions of two Australians in Bali. Public outrage and media headlines were fiery, but amongst the furor lies some cognisant debate about what this really means for the relationship.
Tone Matters
Graeme Dobell of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute suggests that whilst Australia’s response to the executions was justifiable, it may not have been the most effective. Confrontational politics only served to push President Joko Widodo into pursuing the executions in order to prove his strength. And whilst Graeme claims that the relationship is too difficult to be special, it remains vital and unique. More>>
Will it Ever Work?
Executive Director of ASPI Peter Jennings takes a sober approach to the Australia-Indonesia relationship in his analysis following the recent executions. The relationship has always been fraught – from trade in cattle to spying scandals, and despite a relatively long history of collaboration, problems continue to arise. Jennings suggest that despite high aspirations for the relationship, the Australian government and Australia as a community need to be more realistic about the relationship. More>>
Acknowledge and Accept Differences
Tony Abbott connects with his ASEAN counterparts. Courtesy of The Australian, 2014
Former Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, John McCarthy believes that the Australian-Indonesian relationship is above all about interests. McCarthy suggests that in order to ensure stability, it is important to acknowledge that the two countries are vastly different, and that the relationship will always be difficult. At the same time, our engagement is unavoidable and important for both countries and drifting apart is not an option. Pragmatism needs to overcome emotions. More>>
Indonesians Against the Death Penalty
Mulya Lubis is one of Indonesia's most well-respected activists for legal reform. Courtesy Portal Semarang, 2011
Professor of Indonesian Studies and Dean of Arts at University of Western Australia, Krishna Sen, draws attention to the human rights movement within Indonesia that has been fighting for legal reform since 1970. Upon the establishment of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of Indonesia in 1970, Indonesian activists such as Mulya Lubis (a Sumatraan with a Berkley Phd) have openly called for the abolishment of the death penalty. More>>
"You have your hypocrisy"
Leading commentator, author and lecturer, Ross Tapsell, notes that there are serious contradictions in the way that the Australian public and government have responded to the executions. Drawing on comments from Indonesian commentators, Tapsell gives a salient reminder that it wasn’t so long ago that Australians were advocating for the execution of the Bali bombers. More>>
Australia's Inconsistencies
Australian human rights lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, points out that the Australian public and government have been hypocritical in their response to the executions. Whilst the Bali nine executions were a violation of human rights, Robinson believes that the response points to serious inconsistencies on Australia’s behalf. Whilst Australians have been outraged by the recent executions, they blatantly ignored the 35 executions conducted by the U.S government last year, as well as the death squads operating in West Papua. More>>
"We are a sovereign country and should not be interfered with"
President Joko Widodo and Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu. Courtesy of Tribune News, 2014
In an interview with Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Tempo reveals that the Indonesian government is uncompromising in its approach to the death penalty. Ryacudu claims that the death penalty is a deterrent against drug use in Indonesia, suggesting that it is better to sacrifice 10 [drug smugglers'] lives rather than 18,000 Indonesians to narcotics. More>>
Selective Compassion
Sunil Badami believes that Australia needs to look within its own borders before decrying the human rights abuses of other countries. Whilst Badami agrees that Australians were right to point out that the recent executions were a violation of human rights and an abuse of international law, he notes that Australia consistently violates international law in its policies towards asylum seekers. More>>
A Wave of Executions in Indonesia
Al Jazeera reports that the recent executions are part of a trend that is seeing death penalties increasing worldwide. In Indonesia, 14 people have been executed this year, and the government has already announced plans for further executions for the following year. This has been the most executions in a year since 1999, with 50% of those put to death being foreigners. More>>
Indonesia and Drugs: A Counterproductive Approach
Michael Buehler of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies reports to Al Jazeera about the failure of the Indonesian government to successfully address their growing drug problem. Whilst Indonesia has harsh laws prohibition both drug trafficking and drug trafficking, very little distinction is made between the two. Previous leaders in Indonesia have framed the issue as a health concern, but todays leadership has transformed it into a security issue. This criminalization of drug consumption has led to a huge increase in the number of prisoners in Indonesia, with 60% of the 12, 000 people locked up in Jakarta for substance abuse. More>>
The AFP Makes no Apologies
Australian Federal Police's Michael Phelan makes no apology. Courtesy of The Guardian, 2015
Brisbane lawyer Bob Myers dismisses the Australian police explanation that the drug smugglers could not have been arrested by local authorities in 2005. He claims that there is clear evidence that the AFP assisted the Indonesian government to arrest the drug smugglers by providing information such as their passport details. This was done with the recognition that they would likely face the death sentence upon being arrested. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin makes no apologies, highlights the importance of cooperation between the Australian and Indonesian police and says there is no guarantee the exchanges of information won't happen again. More>>
A Principled Approach
Dave McGrae (senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute), together with Diane Zhang (public policy specialist working on Indonesia) believe that Australia’s response to the executions has been symbolic. For real change to be made Australia needs to connect with other involved countries to comprehensively address the issue of death penalty in Indonesia (and beyond). Furthermore, Australia needs to show (as strongly as it has in the case of Indonesia) zero tolerance for the death penalty in other countries as well. More>>
Drugs or Politics?
Author and commentator Elizabeth Pisani suggests a weak leader in the shape of Joko Widodo and a corrupt legal and political system have led to an approach to drug use and trafficking that speaks more of political maneuvering than a genuine concern and response to drugs. The government is floundering, and this is becoming increasingly evident. But in an interview with Al Jazeera, President Joko Widodo defends his stance on the death penalty clear. More>>
The Last Years of Gatot Lestario
Vanessa Hearman, Lecturer of Indonesian Studies at the University of Sydney, thinks that past campaigns against the death penalty in Indonesia can be reignited. Under the Suharto regime, activists such as Gatot Lestario engaged with international groups such as Amnesty to campaign against the death penalty. The subversion law upon which Lestario was convicted was repealed in 1998. However the death penalty still applies for other crimes. Today, the momentum and global angsts could help to see the death penalty abolished forever. More>>