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Democracy News
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Praises Indonesian Democracy
By Heather Konjura
February 19, 2009 |  Printer Friendly
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Jakarta, Indonesia. According to The New York Times, Mrs. Clinton’s decision to visit Indonesia was motivated by an effort to reach out to the world’s most populous Muslim country, by a desire to recognize the importance of Southeast Asia, and to pay tribute to Indonesia’s hard-won political freedoms. Furthermore, the Obama administration feels Southeast Asia was a region neglected by the Bush administration.
After the 1998 Asian financial crisis, which led to the ouster of autocratic President Suharto, Indonesia has been on the way towards a robust democracy. Mrs. Clinton said “Indonesia has experienced a great transformation in the last ten years” and “if you want to know if Islam, democracy, modernity, and women’s rights can coexist, go to Indonesia.”
The New York Times writes that during her visit, Mrs. Clinton announced that the United States would begin the process of signing on to an amity and cooperation treaty with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which would bind the U.S. closer to the 10-member group, which includes Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Mrs. Clinton announced that the United States is seeking a broader partnership with Indonesia in areas such as climate change. Furthermore, the Indonesian government has agreed to negotiations to allow the U.S. Peace Corps to return to the country after a 43-year absence, which began with the 1965 military coup.
Lastly, Mrs. Clinton praised Jakarta for its fight against Islamic extremism, which has led to the jailing of numerous radical group operatives who are responsible for the deadly Bali bombing in 2002. Although this group, Jemaah Islamiya, is still a threat, its capabilities have been significantly degraded.
References:
The New York Times – Clinton Praises Indonesian Democracy
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