RISKS OF BACKING UP IRAN IN NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT
By Beni Bevly
Indonesian government had taken great risks by backing up Iran in developing nuclear. Now, Indonesia stands a lone in the United Nations Security Council because of this decision. If Indonesia persists with the decision, Indonesia may loose many allies. Finally, it will affect Indonesia politically and economically in international affairs.
On Saturday, March 26, 2007, fifteen members of Security Council of the United Nations, including Indonesia signed Resolution 1747 in New York that goes beyond the nuclear sphere by banning Iranian exports of conventional arms and freezing financial assets abroad of 28 individuals and entities, including state-owned Bank Sepah and the commanders of the Revolutionary Guards. Some of those affected are said to be involved in supporting militant movements abroad (Evelyn Leopold, “Iran Rejects U.N. Vote on Arms, Financial Sanctions,” http://news.yahoo.com/, March 25, 2007).
Even though Indonesia Government had signed the resolution, according to Indonesian Presidential Spokesman, Dino Patty Djalal that Indonesia still backs Iran on Nuclear ambition for peace means. In Bogor, Indonesia, on March 26, 2007, he said (“Indonesia Tetap Dukung Pengembangan Nuklir Iran,” http://www.antara.co.id, March 26, 2007),
“Dari awal kita coba berhubungan dengan pihak-pihak terkait seperti Iran dan Amerika Serikat. Kita menjelaskan bahwa Indonesia mendukung Iran membangun proyek energi nuklirnya untuk kepentingan damai.”
Why does Indonesian government back Iran in developing nuclear? What does Indonesian government receive in return from Iran?
It seems the answer is quite simple, money. Back in May 2006, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said it expected Iran would commit to $600 million in investments in Indonesia’s gas and oil sector during Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit. The planned investments would provide Indonesia’s energy sector with a greatly needed cash injection (Indonesia Backs Iran on Nuclear Ambitions http://abcnews.go.com, May 8, 2006).
In this case, Indonesian government like other governments, I believe had made this decision based on Indonesians’ interests. But for Indonesia long-term foreign affairs, I question this decision. How much Indonesian could take the advantage from Iran? How important Iran in international politics map?
If Iran is compared to United States, China, United Kingdom and other countries in the UN Security Council as a whole, Iran means less important than them, especially from long-term economics reason. As a whole, they have huge market where Indonesia could sell it products. On the other hand, they could invest even much more amount of money in Indonesia than Iran.
From political point of view, Indonesian government needs to remember that President Admadinejad’s is notorious with his statement regarding holocaust. Because of this statement, most western countries keep distance in cooperating with Iran.
In “Iranian Leader: Holocaust a ‘myth’,” http://www.cnn.com, December 14, 2005, CNN mentioned that Admadinejad expressed doubt about the killing by the Nazis of six million Jews during World War II, and the Holocaust was a myth. CNN quoted him,
“They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets. … The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews, even more significant than God, religion, and the prophets.”
As a conclusion, it seems Indonesian government had taken great risks in backing up Iran in developing nuclear. The risks include of loosing western and other countries in UN Security Council as Indonesia’s allies. It means Indonesia could loose international support, economically and politically.
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*Beni Bevly holds BA in Political Science, MBA in Marketing, and is a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) candidate. He is the founder of Overseas Think Tank for Indonesia.
I agree with the notion that Indonesian government does not carry themselves wisely within the international relations realm. I have a simplistic mindset, in which I see relations among nations just like relations among people. If we want to position ourselves among the best and the brightest, we need to carry ourselves as one of them as well.
I have mentioned this in many of my writings, including in my motivational articles. First of all, have a “success mindset,” which is not a journey, nor a destination. It is a where you belong, within you. Second, to be seen as “successful,” one must be associated with those who are already perceived as successful.
Both principles also apply in relations among nations. How do other nations perceive Iran? Who are those other nations who perceive Iran as a “threat”? How does Indonesia want to be perceived? Iran’s friend? Other nations’ friend?
I think within the context of human relations, but these principles also apply greater context. Be a friend, not just an ally. A friend supports each other in good and bad situations, an ally prefers to work on a particular project.
Here, in this case, Indonesia showed the world that it is Iran’s ally. Indonesia still has an opportunity to show to the world that it can be other nations’ friend.
The question is now finding the right timing to show Indonesia’s compassion and genuine interest.
~ Jennie S. Bev
http://www.jenniesbev.com
http://www.jennieforindonesia.com
Jennie S. Bev
26 Mar 07 at 2:52 pm
Jennie,
The funny thing, in domestic politics in Indonesia, parliament members and other politicians were criticizing why Indonesia Government signed the resolution. They did not even ask the contradictory action from the government: signed to punish Iran but backed Iran up in developing its nuclear.
What kind of foreign affairs is it? Indonesians call it, “Free and active foreign policy.” or in Indonesian, “Politik luar negeri bebas aktif?” I call it, “Foreign policy without back bone.” That’s why Indonesia can not stand straight among other nations.
Beni Bevly
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