http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/indonesias-row-with-australia-a-twoway-failure-to-communicate-at-inopportune-time-20170104-gtlz27.html
COMMENTa.. JANUARY 4 2017 - 9:33PM b.. SAVE c.. PRINT d.. LICENSE ARTICLE Indonesia's row with Australia a two-way failure to communicate at inopportune timea.. Michael Gordon Jakarta's decision to suspend military co-operation between Indonesia and Australia has all the hallmarks of being a storm in a teacup. The suggestion is that an Indonesian instructor felt materials on display at a joint training facility were insulting to Pancasila, the philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state. MORE WORLD NEWS VIDEOSPrevious slideNext slide Indonesia suspends military ties with ... Video duration 00:55Scientists track mysterious intergalactic ... Video duration 00:42Melania Trump criticises social media Video duration 00:58Survivor of 10,160m free fall dies aged 66 Video duration 01:00World record at age 105 Video duration 00:17Cop caught slamming school girl to ground Video duration 01:10Paul Ryan baffled by swearing in dab Video duration 01:40Strained relationsMORE VIDEOS Indonesia suspends military ties with Australia Military co-operation between Australia and Indonesia has been suspended temporarily for "technical reasons", according to Indonesia's military spokesman Major-General Wuryanto. Vision courtesy Ten Eyewitness News. This is hard to imagine, not least because it is in Australia's national interest to do everything in its power to support that philosophy, rather than insult or undermine it. Pancasila underpins the Indonesian constitution and rests on five guiding principles: a common belief in humanity, in one God, in national unity, in democracy and in social justice. RELATED CONTENTa.. Indonesia, Australia military co-operation on hold Right now these principles are under attack on the streets of Jakarta and across the Indonesian archipelago, along with the social cohesion that has generally been a defining quality of Australia's most populous near neighbour. The blasphemy trial of Jakarta's Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja 'Ahok' Purnama, and the demonstrations accompanying it are one manifestation of what Barack Obama has described as a shift from a relaxed, syncretistic Islam to a more fundamentalist, unforgiving interpretation. Advertisement This shift, combined with Indonesia's growing economic might, makes it all the more important for Australia to forge a stronger, more resilient strategic partnership with Indonesia and do its best to support Indonesia's multiculturalism. Tony Abbott understood this, but could not deliver for a variety of reasons, some beyond his control. Malcolm Turnbull's challenge is to do what Abbott could not. a.. SHARE a.. SHARE ON FACEBOOKSHARE a.. SHARE ON TWITTERTWEET a.. PIN TO PINTERESTPIN a.. LINK Indonesian special forces (Kopassus) soldiers. Photo: AP Indonesian military spokesman Major-General Wuryanto has played down the potential for a serious, long-term fissure, describing the perceived insult as not the main reason for the "temporary" cessation of joint exercises. Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne has responded by saying the Australian Army has looked into the "serious concerns" raised about the teaching materials and that the investigation into the incident is being finalised. a.. a.. SHARE ON FACEBOOKSHARE a.. SHARE ON TWITTERTWEET a.. PIN TO PINTERESTPIN a.. LINK Happier times: General Gatot and Australian Defence chief Air Marshal Mark Binskin after signing a statement on defence co-operation in October. Photo: Defence Department One reason to doubt the Major-General's confidence of a speedy resolution is that Australia appeared to be caught on the hop, with no response until more than three hours after the story broke. Another is that Australia does not appear to have kept Indonesia in the loop on the progress of its investigation, prompting an act of frustration. This smacks of a two-way failure to communicate at the most inopportune time. That's the problem with storms in teacups. In the absence of direct, honest and reassuring communication, based on mutual respect, they can turn into something far more serious.
