The triple threat: ignorance, fear and prejudice

There have been curious conclusions.  Director Paul Ramadge said the research showed ‘an appetite’ to know more about Indonesia.’ It doesn’t. To the question: Would you like to learn more about Indonesia? Only 39 per cent said ‘Yes’.  

They are dilettantes. The genuinely famished will have fed well in libraries and on the Web. Elizabeth Pisani’s Indonesia Etc is an enticing entrée - tasty, palatable and nutritious.

Among the oddities are indications that Indonesians favour Japan over Australia.

The East Asians occupied the archipelago for three years.  They raped the resources, conscripted millions as labourers and treated them brutally. More died on the Burma railroad than Allied prisoners.

Australia helped liberate Indonesia and was among the first to recognise the Republic’s independence.  Yet Indonesians marginally prefer to visit their former captors than their saviours.

Why?  The report is silent. (One reason could be Japanese low-profile determination to repair relationships, invest and develop long-term business links. Another could be our onerous visa requirements.)

Indonesians widely believe Australia wants to fracture the ‘Unitary State’ by supporting breakaway movements in West Papua.  They are certain we remain a colony; no self-respecting independent state would have a European queen on its coinage and the Union Jack on its flag.

If they abandon protectionism as urged by Australia, shiploads of wheat and meat will overwhelm the rural workforce and destroy self-sufficiency.  If we soften immigration controls the 14,000 asylum seekers now in Indonesia might head to the beaches. 

The AIC blames an unbalanced media.  We’re forever reporting immeasurable graft, preventable disasters, nepotism and widespread corruption.

Naughty hacks.  We should stick to what we do well, filing from pools and pitches.  Unfortunately Indonesians don’t do sport.  They sent 28 to Rio – we had 418.

How about cultural events like literary festivals? They exist (one in Bali was started by an Australian) but Indonesians aren’t bookish.  This troubled the progressive Education Minister Anies Baswedan who set out to reform the system.

He’s just been sacked in another Cabinet churn that makes Canberra politics seem steadfast.  Indonesia’s adolescent democracy has growing pains and irresolute leaders.