| Summary: | Since its founding in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has turned into a major focus of attention in the implementation of Indonesian foreign policy, particularly in the region. The emphasis of Indonesian foreign policy vis-a-vis ASEAN has not been proportionate to the implementation of Indonesia foreign policy toward the Pacific region, specifically the South and Southwest Pacific, despite the attention to Indonesia�s interests as contained in the Outlines of State Policy (GBHN). The development of heightened attention in Indonesia�s foreign policy with respect to the Pacific region has emerged because of, among other things, the rise of threat coming from the eastern region of Indonesia against the existence of the Indonesian unitary state, as changes of condition in the political and security situation taking place domestically, throughout the region as well as the international world. The transitional period in the national leadership during the Reformation Order period, had been very vulnerable due to a number of domestic political issues, particularly as part of meeting the demands of the Reformation Order and also economic issues as the effect of the world monetary crisis. The demand of the Reformation Order does not only include more democratic values, respect of Human Rights (HAM), law enforcement and other fundamental freedoms, but also on the other hand brings negative impact threatening the integrity and integration of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
The measures as well as policy carried out by the Indonesian Government at the time, other than domestic economic recovery from the effects of monetary crisis, also includes safeguarding the NKRI integrity from divisions caused by basic changes in taking place domestically and also alterations in the political map of the region and changes too in the international world. In responding to these various issues, birth has been given to a governmental system of a more decentralized character, through the introduction regional autonomy law and granting of special autonomy as granted to Papua and Aceh. Meanwhile, at regional level, specifically in the Pacific region, generally bilateral relations between Indonesia and the advanced nations such as Australia and New Zealand have been progressing well. However, relations with the other countries in the region are still hurdled by issues of separatism, such as with PNG, Vanuatu and a number of other Pacific states that are accommodating groups voicing Melanesian sentiment, which disadvantaged Indonesian foreign policy in the Pacific territory. It was in the context of international political constellation such as this in the region that during the two administrations of President Abdurrahman Wahid and then President Megawati Soekarnoputri the idea to establish a regional forum was materialized, the forum called Southwest Pacific Dialogue (SWPD), in 2002. Similarly with the Indonesian initiative of working to realize a Look East policy for the purpose of fending Indonesian interest in the region, in 2002 was set up a forum called the Indonesia-Australia-Timor Leste Tripartite Consultation, which held its first meeting in Bali in 2002. Also Indonesia was active in the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and cultivate as well as increase bilateral relations with the member countries of PIF and extended technical assistances deemed beneficial for the PIF countries. Generally, Indonesia has diplomatic and bilateral relations with a number of countries in the Pacific, which have been continually developed and cultivated based on the principles of equality, respect of territorial integrity and mutually beneficial cooperation. But taking into mind the anxiety that the regional situation might bring damaging impact on the Indonesian position in the Pacific, the Indonesian government has stepped up diplomatic efforts in the region to improve Indonesia�s image and cultivate strategic relationships with the states that have sea and land borders with Indonesia, with the objective of securing and safeguarding the regional stability which will have direct impact on Indonesia�s interest in the eastern area. By utilizing soft power as the execution instrument of the Look East Policy, Indonesia will gain not just sympathy from the countries of the Pacific region but also strategic political and economic benefits, particularly at a time when Indonesia is facing various domestic problems. The research has been done by relying on literatures study, through tracing various scientific publications both in the format of journal, book, newspaper analysis, magazine, as well as other relevant literary sources.
|
|---|