The spy nest

In 1968, when the sampar plague hit Central Java, Indonesia called on the United States for help. The US then dispatched its Naval Medical Research Unit or NAMRU2, which gave successful recommendations to eradicate the deadly disease. Then in 1970, Indonesia called on the US again for help to fight malaria in Papua. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Indonesian Health Minister GA Siwabessy and US Ambassador Francis Galbraith to secure NAMRU2’s presence in Indonesia. In the 1990s, when malaria was finally eradicated, NAMRU2’s presence continued in Indonesia. In 1991, the US promoted NAMRU2’s level from a mere military health detachment of the US Navy to a full command operations status (intelligence operations?), following the closure of NAMRU2 based in the Philippines in 1994. Since then, with the help of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) expanded NAMRU2’s function to conduct research on contagious diseases for all of the Southeast Asian region. Then in 1998, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto urged the government to halt NAMRU2’s operations on grounds that its presence on Indonesian soil posed a threat to national defense and security. Gen. Wiranto noted that 23 NAMRU2 researchers were given diplomatic immunity and free to wander all over Indonesia to carry out their activities (why didn’t he stop it?). In 1999, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas sent a letter to President BJ Habibie informing him that NAMRU2’s operations are related to the military aspect of the Biological Weapons Verification Protocol. Now, after forty years of NAMRU2’s presence, Indonesian believe its function is no longer needed (but Indonesia doesn’t have the guts to tell the US!). Its legal binding with Indonesia has ended. But NAMRU2’s operations continued. AC Manulang a former head of Indonesian intelligence said NAMRU2 is currently carrying out the role of America’s neo-liberalism policy by carrying out espionage activities under the camouflage of research purposes. Current intelligence chief declined to state whether NAMRU2 is associated with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) but confirmed the US military research unit carried out intelligence practices and that it’s presence is being evaluated (why not a recommendation to close the facilities?). US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume denied such allegations but Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari accused NAMRU2 of trampling over Indonesia’s sovereignty. She ordered all hospitals to stop providing samples, including bird flu samples to NAMRU2 (bird flu research samples made US pharmaceutical firms rich). She said NAMRU2 has its own programs and carry out its activities without informing results of their research to the Indonesian authorities. But it seems that officials, members of parliament and Indonesians in general are powerless against US neo-liberalism interests while all information about Indonesia is already in the hands of a foreign power (when will Indonesia realize and rise?).

A campaign of vilification

When Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta returned to Dili, he accused Indonesian “elements” of alleged involvement in the assassination attempt on his life. And the latest, he alleged a TV station’s journalist in Jakarta, with the help of authorities in West Timor, organized documents for Maj. Alfredo Reinado to travel to Indonesia for a May 23, 2007 interview. Why did Horta make such allegations? He had phoned Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asking for help. Yudhoyono was surprised as he had ordered top Indonesian authorities to help investigate. He even dispatched two senior police officers to Dili and talk with Timor Leste’s attorney general. On the night of April 17, 2008, the reputed special detachment of the Indonesian police, Densus 88 arrested three members of the Timor Leste military who illegally crossed the border into Indonesia (Indonesian police are more professional). Viewing Horta’s allegations as serious, Yudhoyono called on Horta against issuing statements which could lead to misinterpretations and hurt friendly relations between the two states. The question is, who’s behind all this? Maj. Reinado himself was killed before the assassination attempt on the president took place in Dili on February 11, 2008. Why can’t the 1,100 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and police check the border? Why can’t they secure the president of such a tiny state with only one million people? Why is the refugee issue not addressed? Another attempt to make Indonesia the scapegoat? (as always). In Timor Leste, the common people speak the Indonesian language and in everyday life they rely on Indonesian-made products (the sarongs, the instant noodle) which they have to pay in dollars. At the same time, they resented the luxury lifestyle of the Timor Leste leaders while people lead difficult life. The military meanwhile has been discriminated. The presence of too many Australian soldiers also add to the anti-foreign sentiment. Once again, Australia is launching a campaign of vilification against Indonesia in the Australian and foreign media in favor of Australia’s interests (Horta is Australia’s man in Timor Leste).

Culture of competition

A fresh wind of change is blowing softly across Indonesia’s political spectrum. The recent direct elections for regent and deputy regent in Tangerang and the gubernatorial elections in West Java proved that politics are no longer dominated by the big powerful parties or a handful of incumbents. Rano Karno and Dede Yusuf, both celebrities, stole the limelight from the sunset incumbents when they won the election for deputy regent and deputy governor. Incumbent former governor of West Danny Setiawan (65) and Agum Gumelar (63), a highly respected and well decorated elite forces retired general who were expected to win the votes failed to convince people to vote for them. Sukardi Rinakit, a young political analyst and a fierce but subtle critic of the government launched his book Gusti Ora Sare (in Javanese, God Never Sleeps) which is a collection of his thoughts, analysis and political arguments, dug deep into attitude, character, ethics and morality side in Indonesian politics. He pointed out that the political cycle and activities will face a dead end when it comes to bumping into the attitude of the new voters. People are now digging the potentials they have in their self to create a “culture of competition.” This proved that the old values in the melodramatic character of the Indonesian people are beginning to fade away. They are fed up with the old and same faces of people running for top government jobs and the powerful political parties which to date failed to improve the economic condition and welfare of the people. In this context, God never sleeps. Indonesia is blessed with a powerful economic machine but the problem is that the government is sleeping. The regional elections (pilkada) are overshadowed by political practices of the old regimes called Politik Mataraman (political orientation to the Javanese cosmology). The current pilkada is often dominated by those who have been in politics during the New Order which is artificial and not substancial. The pilkadas which are dominated by incumbents are in fact slowing the real democratic process.

Is there a hidden agenda?

Timor Leste President Ramos Horta would not step down as what the Australian media reported recently. All his life, he had campaigned and struggled for the independence of his country. Although very sensitive, and sometimes emotional, Horta proved himself to be a strong person. Indeed, he was very lucky to have escaped death during an assassination attempt outside his residence in Dili. Following his discharge from hospital, he described the last moments before the shooting took place and the role of the Australian-led UN soldiers stationed in Timor Leste. He saw it was one of Maj. Reinado’s men who shot him. Until now, Maj. Reinado’s men’s whereabouts are still unknown (an Indonesian TV journalist knows where they are). And there is still a lingering question why the Australian soldiers had not acted. Horta was told that United Nations police had obstructed people trying to rescue him as he lay bleeding for 30 minutes near the front gate of his house in Dili on February 11. The Australian-led forces could have promptly surrounded the entire town closing all the exits, using helicopters and captured the attackers within hours. But all that didn’t happen. Meanwhile, defying accusations, Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said that they would only act at the request of the Timor Leste government or the United Nations (even an assassination attempt on a Nobel laureate?). The question is what are they doing in Timor Leste if they can’t provide security? Is there an Australian hidden agenda in Timor Leste?

Sowing seeds of hatred

Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders has insulted the Muslim world with his anti-Islam film “Fitna”. The film, which can be seen on You Tube and other internet sites, clearly links images of extremist attacks to verses from the Al Qur’an and equates Islam with violence. Wilders, a far-right Freedom Party lawmaker, has also called for the Al Qur’an to be banned in the Netherlands. While most Muslims and the rest of the world are angry, Wilders is just as happy as he can get. He’s challenging the world to debate whether he’s wrong and he’s been invited to the US for a lecture (what will President Bush say?). The intense publicity of the broadcast has made many more people in the West to believe that Islam is violent and evil. Muslims reject that. Indonesia has condemned Wilders and banned him. The Dutch must be careful in regard to its ties with Indonesia. Malaysia’s former leader Mahathir Mohamad suggested a boycott on Dutch products (what if the world’s Muslims unite and boycott Dutch products and Dutch companies in the Muslim world such as Shell, Philips and Unilever). Although the Dutch government has already condemned Wilders, it’s not enough. Egypt, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Singapore, 27 European Union foreign ministers and the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have condemned the Dutch MP. Wilders wants to curb what he says is Islamization of Europe and the West (doesn’t he realize that there are many followers of different faiths as well living in the Muslim world?). At a time when the world is seeking peace and understanding among nations, cultures and religions, Wilders is disrupting the process. He is a modern day fascist and as crazy as Adolf Hitler and the Ku Klux Klan. He has incited racial and religious hatred. He is spreading the phobic that Islam is dangerous to a far wider extent. He is sowing seeds of hatred under the pretext of freedom of expression. Beware, the situation is dangerous and Wilders must be stopped!