In what appears to be a major shift in position on the Burmese crisis, Indonesian foreign minister attacks Myanmar’s generals and their failed process of democratisation. He promises to get ban preventing Indonesian airline companies from flying into the EU lifted. The latter needs new regional allies to put pressure on Myanmar’s military junta.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesia goes into reverse gear on the Myanmar question. From a position of non-interference it held hitherto it is now shifting to a more critical position, attacking the failures of the Burmese junta in the transition process towards democracy.

For some analysts this change is the result of pressure from its US ally; for others the decision stems from a desire to accommodate the European Union. Jakarta in fact wants the European Union this year to lift its ban on Indonesian airlines, a measure that has been economically costly and damaging to the country’s image.

For its part the European Union is seeking the support of regional powers like Indonesia to back its efforts in finding a solution to the Myanmar crisis. The EU is especially keen on getting the military regime’s economic partners like Indonesia involved in the process. Trade between the South-East Asian country and the former Burma now runs around US$ 100 million annually and its investments have reached about US$ 240 million

Jakarta’s concern over the EU ban

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda yesterday clearly linked Jakarta’s new position on Myanmar and his country’s desire to improve relations with the European Union. Yesterday in his annual year-end speech he called Myanmar’s national constitutional convention a farce. He accused the military junta of brutally cracking down on demonstrations by Buddhist monks last September. At the same time he promised that Indonesian airline companies would be back flying into Europe.

Whilst acknowledging that there were problems in bilateral relations with the 27-nation bloc, he said that “that's why we want to solve it as soon as possible.”

“The grouping [the European Union] has become an important trade partner and source of foreign investment for Indonesia. That's why the ban came as a surprise when it was enacted last year,” Hassan said.

Last year the European Commission imposed a ban on 51 Indonesian airlines, preventing them from entering EU territory. This has negatively affected Indonesia’s tourism industry, already battered by frequent natural disasters.

Now everyone is waiting to see what position Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will take. He is expected to meet Myanmar’s Prime Minister Thein Sein next week in Jakarta. (MH)

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