Q/A The President of Republic Indonesia and Students of The John F Kennedy School of Government Harvard University

TRANSCRIPT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA AND STUDENTS OF THE JOHN F. KENNEDY
SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
SEPTEMBER 29, 2009



Prof. David Ellwood, Moderator
Now I let me remind you of the basic ground rules of our questions. A good question has three characteristics. First one is, you state your name and affiliation. The second is, that is short and contains but one thought. And the third is, it ends in a question mark. And so with that, we’d start right here.

Adam Cupa, Student
Good evening Mr. President . My name Adam Cupa. I am student here at the Kennedy School. A few weeks ago the Australian Police announced that they were launching a war crimes probe into the deaths of five Australian journalists who were killed 30 years ago during Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor. A move that you’ve described as inaccurate and that this could damage relations with your government. How do you reconcile your position on this issue with your professed commitment to human right and democracy?

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Well, related to our past with East Timor, Timor Leste, both nations, both government agreed to choose the so called a truth and friendship solution. We have done a lot in settling down the issues between the two countries. Actually, this is a long process how to deal with this issue. I do understand that there are many incidents in the past during the war, during conflict. But in this case, the position of Indonesia as also the position of Timor Leste try to sort this situation by looking ahead by choosing the framework of a truth and a friendship and reconciliation as not justice.

In the past, there were court established in Indonesia to deal with the happening in East Timor in 1999. So, I have told my counterpart, the leadership of Australia this position and we are willing to cooperate with Australia to deal with everything of our past with Timor Leste. But the spirit is actually after Indonesia recognize the independence of East Timor, after Indonesia is doing its best to support East Timor for international building after we fully support the sovereignity of East Timor. And looking ahead for a good future of East Timor then we’ll continue building friendship and cooperation and also handling our past wisely and correctly.

Chris Holladay, Student
Hi Mr. President, thank you for coming here today. My name is Chris Halde and I am a junior here at Harvard College. The history of the Indonesian presidency has been one in which only those who have strong in ties to the military have had successful tenures. And you have stated publicly way that the military should not be involved in politics. Mr. President, you are beginning a successful tenure as president given your recent re-election, but you also have a strong connection to the military. So, is Indonesia ready for a civilian presidency or is a strong connection to the military a prerequisite?

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Well, I still remember 11 years from now when I with small team drafted the military reform. The objective of the reform is stop from playing politics, back to our function as defend apparatus, respecting democratic value and rule of law in Indonesia. Since then the military has conducted very intensive reform, respecting human right, respecting democratic values and practices. And the military is part of our national system. And since then actually we go to democracy and if a candidate of the military is elected to be a governor or a president that is because of the democratic process that has to be practiced, be followed by the military man. So, I have to say in this connection that the roles of the military in the politic in Indonesia is over. It belongs to the past. And we now part of the democratic system, that I have to, that’s the thing that I have to explain in this forum. And I respect fully democracy and that’s new Indonesia, new military rules in Indonesia.

Kancham Divali, Student
Good evening Mr. President, My name is Kancham Divali. I am a Harvard Kennedy School Student. You laid down harmony as vision for various groups and civilizations in Indonesia. I’d like to know what institutions are you building and inspiring and empowering to pursue this vision and who will be the new role model towards this vision.

Prof. David Ellwood, Moderator
Can you please repeat the last part of the question?

Kancham Divali, Student
Who will be the new role models to pursue your vision and what will be the new institutions that will be empowered to pursue this vision?

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Yes, I am saying of our endeavour to develop a model that Indonesia is a place, is a country that Islam, modernity and democracy can work together in harmony and in peace. We have proven in our history actually that Indonesia is the meeting point of the three civilizations: eastern civilization, western civilization and islamic civilization. And we are able to live for centuries with that kind of situation. So, what we are doing now is to strengthen this institution in the larger dimension in broader meaning, to maintain this existence. Of course we are facing challenges because of globalization, because of the inter-connection between one country to another, Indonesia, and the Middle East and other places. That’s why we are trying our best to preserve these values. It is not taken for granted, we have to maintain it. And I do believe why empowering through religious leaders, empowering the prominent future in the society through education. I believe that we are able to maintain this culture of harmony and peace. Of course, we will continue facing challenges but I believe very strongly that Indonesia will be able to maintain it. And I have to go back to what has been adopted in the Mecca Declaration, new charter of the OIC, the Organization of Islamic Country that actually Islamic nation also respect, democracy and human right. So, it is a time we could live, we could learn to live together again and my view, democracy, Islam and modernity can live together.

Peter, Student
Thank you Mr. President. My name is Peter. I am a student here at the Kennedy School. My question is on the ASEAN integration. How ASEAN community can work together to overcome issues and move forward? What is your vision for this partnership and what are the key success factors? Is there anything we can learn from the Europeon integration in past decade? Thank you.

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Yes, ASEAN has adopted new charter. ASEAN is now becoming more structured, rule based and united by rules, objectives and also principles. I believe very strongly, when all ASEAN economies are growing, with a new charter will be able to find new opportunity. And remember that we are now not only working with members of the ASEAN, we develop our togetherness with other players in Asia: China, India, Japan, South Korea and others. Even though we are not exactly what is practiced by European Union but actually we are moving toward a more structured association and no longer loose organization that there are no rules and principle that we have to follow. But remember, ASEAN has its own way, how ASEAN settle the problem, how ASEAN solve the problems inside ASEAN or ASEAN with other grouping economic in our region. So, that’s ASEAN and I believe that our cohesion will be better and we will find more opportunities ahead.

Widiatmika, Student
I am Widiatmika dari Indonesia a Kennedy School student. And my question is on your vision on inequality and harmony among non Moslem and Moslem people in Indonesia. So, 6 years ago when I was in university I was not been able to become the president of the student association mainly because I am not Moslem. And my case is not uncommon and is not only at the level of university. So, my question is I would like to understand your vision of equality and harmony between Moslem and non Moslem in Indonesia, whether in your vision this situation will still happen and also what will you do the next 5 years on the next term to achieve your vision? Thank you so much.

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Yes, there must be a few cases that is not along with our principle. But remember actually, I’ll give my own example when I have to appoint ministers, my staffs, I never look at the identity. Minister of Trade is non Moslem, she is chinese by descendent. So, actually election is election, I don’t know what happen with the election of the student organization leader. But actually we practice that there are is equality in choosing profession and anything in our society. So, there must be a case and I have to admit in the past the relation between for example the chinese descendent and others are not issue, but we learn a lot how to bring harmony, how to respect others. And we issued the law, regulation in the past 5 years in my tenure to end uneasiness in having relation of one identity with another. So, we will continue this new relation in our country. And as I have said the harmony among us must be continuously preserved, it’s not to be taken for granted, so I am hoping that will be moving in a correct destiny and I could say now that we are progressing on that situation.

Kene Swaski, Student
Good afternoon Mr. President, my name is Kene Swaski. I am a first student at Harvard College. My question that your vision for the 21st century. What does the possibility of a nuclear Iran mean for your vision of the 21st century as a century of soft power and of mending of relations between western nations and Muslim nations? And what advice would you give to western leaders for dealing with possibility?

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Yes. Let me explain first the position of Indonesia toward Iranian nuclear issue. Indonesia supports the development of nuclear for peaceful purposes. And Indonesia never support if the development of nuclear is, I should say toward building a nuclear weapon. Indonesia is the signature of the non-proliferation treaty of the nuclear weapon. It’s quite clear when I met leader of Iran, I did say the Indonesian position. I know that there are problems and challenges related to that issue. And I did say when I met again the Iranian leader that Iran must cooperate well with IAEA because IAEA determine the mechanisms, the procedures, the rules to be followed by any nation if we are to develop a nuclear weapon for peaceful purposes. And I am told that actually there is an opportunity to continue negotiation between Iran and others to find the proper solution.

This afternoon I got report from my Foreign Minister who is now in New York. And he told me that few days from now, there will be a meeting between Iran and P-5 Plus Germany to discuss the possible settlement of the nuclear, Iranian nuclear issue. I do hope that because we are still having resources to find solution peacefully, politically then we go to other alternative that it may be distabilizing the region. So, my preference is, as also the topic of my speech, soft power. Why don’t we use soft power first by finding political solution with Iran and of course with hope that Iran should also cooperate well not only with IAEA but also with the UN and other countries to find a solution.

Dan Gisberg, Student
Mr. President thank your time. My name Dan Gisberg. I am a student here at Kennedy School. My question is about Burma. You spoke of soft power and the strength of democracy in Indonesia. My question is, can you please describe for us what you see as role for Indonesia in supporting democratic reform in Burma? In particulary in light of the non-interference principle of ASEAN. How can Indonesia support true democratic reform in Burma, not reform necessarily as a military might say, but true democratic reform there?

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Yes, when I have the opportunity to meet with leadership in Myanmar, I did say that Indonesia and ASEAN are really hoping that road to democracy in Myanmar can be done properly, as promised by Myanmar itself. And I know that next year will be the elections in Myanmar. And I did say that the elections must be conclude, must be inclusive, must be bringing all components of politics in Myanmar, must be transparent, must be credible and accountable and by that the international community will believe that democracy is moving well in Myanmar. I think that we have to ensure the democratic process that is done in Myanmar. Physically we have to focus on the conduct of elections next year. By that, I believe, when the international community, the ASEAN community can be part of the democratic process in Myanmar and with, of course, the willingness of the leadership of Myanmar to bring everybody including Aung San Suu Kyi in the process of election. I think ASEAN, Indonesia and world will believe, will, I should say, yes, will believe that democratic process is done properly in Myanmar.

Ahmad Jalal, Student
Thank you. My name is Ahmad Jalal. I am a student of the Kennedy School. My question to you is regarding Jamaah Islamiyah in Indonesia. At the time of October 2002 bombing and subsequent bombings there was a big threat from Jamaah Islamiyah to Indonesia, which has significantly been curtailed, so it doesn’t pose a tactical strategic threat as some people thought it might. My question to you is; with regards to other Moslem countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, other, Yaman, who face significant terrorism threat, Islamic terrorism theat, what lessons and experiences can you share with them so that they can be successful in dealing with threat of Islamic extremism within their own population? Thank you.

The President of the Republic of Indonesia
Yes. Terrorist is terrorist. And I think you agree with me that terrorism is against the true teaching of Islam. It is a crime, it is extraordinary crime that we have to fight it. Indonesia has launched two-pronged approach in combating terrorism. One, we have to use soft power actually, to maintain the force of moderation in our nation, our society. We have to deal with the root causes of terrorism: radicalism, backwardness, injustice and others. But on the other hand we have to directly combat, the act of terrorism, like what we have done in Indonesia. I believe you know that we have kill the two top terrorist leader in South East Asia not only in Indonesia, both are Malaysian by citizen, Dr. Azahari and Noordin Mohammad Top that for almost 8 years leading terrorist act in Indonesia. So, actually we will continue to do so, and if we could cooperate well and we could take lesson from our experience in combating terrorism, we have to separate, solve radicalism with the back of our community, our society, we have to empower the true religious leaders of Islam and we have to convince, we have to explain to Ummah, to the people that terrorist is terrorist, is not to be seen as Islamic people who fight for justice. It’s wrong. So, we have to still determine that we, there is no middle ground we have to combat terrorist at all cause for saving our nation, for saving ummah, for saving the good name, great name of Islam. That’s my answer.

Prof. David Ellwood, Moderator
Thank you very much, Mr. President.

*****

Bureau for Press and Media Affairs
Presidential Household