AboutIndonesia: Ind-Aus relations

the relationship between two countries is a kind of hate-love relationships, often being analogued with the husband-wife or neighbour-neighbour relationship.

There are many things there, some connected to global political system, the connection between developed and developing countries which reflect inequal position in the arena fof international relations. There are many things to discuss here, but I don't want to go too far about this. Anotehr important thing that often affect this relatinship is actually about misunderstanding, lack of understanding about each other. This is probably not a big issue when there is noone use this misunderstanding for their own purpose. But when a group or some groups either in Indonesia and Australia try to use this lack of understanding situation for their own purpose, sometimes they use media to make the fire bigger, this can be a big problem.

I can see it for example with what currently happened to one of Indonesian student in melbourne. he was robbed, his car, wallet,handphone were taken and he was injured, in a red area in melbourne. This is an area well-known for drug users and alcohol abuse area. This student mention that the robber seems like drug users so seems like it is a common criminalities that often happened in this area. Hwoever, what I read in the media in Indoensia (Such as detik com, and others (not mainstream emdia actually-just internet sources) is a shocking story to relate the problem with the racialism. Some comments are scarying, even some say Indonesia should cut teh diplomatic relation with Indonesia. These people who made comments are not less educated people, so may be some people think these people may be represent general opinion in Indonesia about Australia. However, in fact these people are actually stupid persons who talk for everything no matter they have knowledge about the issue or not. They just tukang omong who shouldn't be heard. They taklk based on their common sense, their interests rather than their knowledge. It is just appropriate with Indonesian proverb of air beriak tanda tak dalam. The problem is these type of people talk and talk, sometimes their talks are received by media, even mainstream media, across the country. Moreoften, they use internet to spread their 'stupidity' everywhere.

I will back to the issue of the robbery. What I say is not that racism is not happened here. IT is true that it is happened here, just like everywhere. But in this case, it is too early to link this case into the racism issue, before these people know about what actually happened. I would understand if they say like that if there are evidences that this case is racism issue rather than criminality.

However, these people, huh...they just talk without actually knowing what they are talking about. So annoying...These types of people actually muddy the water of Indonesia and Australia relations. They are not focusing on important issues that we should have concern about. They are focusing on aspects that are not even proven yet. Such ashamed to know that many Indonesian intellectual are still like katak dalam tempurung. What they did not only may affect the udnerstanding or trust between two counrties but also actually weaken position of Indonesia to discuss or negotiate more important issues with Australia.
I hope future generation of Indonesia would able to litsen more before they talk. Otherwise, the circle of problems will never finish. because there are people who always fishing in the muddy water. Not for everyone else as they may claiming, but for their own or their group interests. A hope for better Indonesia.

AboutIndonesia:e-governance

It seems like Indonesia is moving into the right direction. ALthough I don't know whether the current direction will turn back if the leader change after the general election. What I means about the right direction of course involve several aspects. One I want to say here is about e-governance.

Today I am searching statistical information about jakarta via google and yahoo. I found several local government websites such as the jakarta province government, statistical bureau, etc. I could easily download information that I need for my research via this website. A privilege I think I wouldn't get two or three years ago. Many governemnt agencies or other organisations also start to use internet to provide information to the public. This is a common practice for couple years in developed countries like Australia where most government agencies have well-maintained and up-date sources of information in their websites that can be easily accessed by the public. However, it is a new phenomenon in Indonesia. So I feel glad that many of the government agencies start to provide public information that can be accessed easily without bureaucratic barrier or difficulties for out of date reasons.

It is a must that public can have access to infomation if we want a strong civil society tht can monitor and act as a watch dog for better performance of the government. I am really glad that the process has started even in the regional level. More and more agencies have websites for public. And more importantly, the quality of the data is getting better over time. yes, sometimes it is out of date, but more often it is updated on at least monthly basis. This is definitely a good signal for Indonesia moving forward to better public service in terms of e-governance.

This is also a signal of reform happening inside government agencies, probably spurred by many young public servants who pursued higher education either within Indonesia or abroad, who aware of the importance of internet as a new media to facilitate the government and the people.

I hope this trend continue, more agencies implement e-governance approach, and the agecies which already tried to start it hopefully could increase the quality of information provided in their websites. Hopefully there is no backset to use internet merely as a media for enhancing the agencies image, but intention to serve the public.
If this trend continue, I am sure in the enar future, Indonesia can start tomove forward into the same level to other copuntries which have advancement in their public service. Of course there are many things need to do at the same time such as ensuring the implementation of decentralisation, ensuring the efforts to reduce poverty and combat corruptions are going in the right ways, providing access to internet for more and more people in all parts of Indonesia, etc. However, incerasing trend of e-governance in Indonesia definitely one way to spurred the process.