This year's federal election comes down to a choice between Bunnings Man:
"In her heartfelt and humanising speech introducing her husband, [Therese] Rein told the story of the day she sent her husband to the hardware store to buy a mosquito candle. He came home with a visionary swag of home improvement items - everything from secateurs to to a step-ladder, Blu-Tac and Roman flares. And no mozzie candle." (Just when you knew it was too late, the visionary Rudd arrived, Jacqueline Maley, Sydney Morning Herald, 2/9/13)
Or Netball Dad:
"'Our dad is not just a politician... Tony Abbott is also a netball dad. Anecdotes followed about the Opposition Leader as a father, taking his 3 daughters... to netball games and barracking loudly from the sidelines. Mr Abbott thought netball was 'just another form of rugby', Frances joked." (Tony Abbott's daughters say he's no headkicker, just a daggy dad, David Wroe, Sydney Morning Herald, 26/8/13)
Friday, September 6, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Election 2013: Pitching for the Zionist Vote
Here's Kevin Rudd's impassioned pitch for the Zionist vote in The Australian Jewish News:
"The Australian Labor Party and the Coalition argue over many policy issues... But some issues should be bipartisan, and I am pleased to say that on the subject of Israel... both major parties are in agreement. The government of Australia supports the State of Israel, not just as an ally , but as a friend. Well before the birth of of the modern State of Israel, Australia has had deep ties with the Zionist dream... The Foreign Minister's recent comments about the international legal status of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories in no way diminishes my government's support for Israel... And it is my view that there is nothing to be gained from politicians publicly debating the finer points of international law in this immensely complex area." (Kevin Rudd's election message)
Typically, while "Labor is committed to supporting an enduring and just two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," it will be "based on the right of Israel to live in peace within secure borders," but merely "reflect the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to also live in peace and security within their own state."
Alas, "Israel faces very real threats beyond those arising from its conflicts with the Palestinians," such as "destabilisation in the region," and "a nuclear-armed Iran."
However: "Israel also faces threats of another kind from misguided programs such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign The federal government strongly opposes and publicly condemns the BDS. Our government expects all institutions in our society to behave in a manner that is ethical and appropriate, and Labor has made clear that in its view the BDS is neither."
Finally, while Labor supports Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, "Abbott has stated... his intent to repeal [it]."
Now here's Tony Abbott's, and like his candidate Jaymes Diaz in the seat of Greenway, he's not giving much away:
"The Coalition's traditionally strong support for the Jewish community has been matched by a firm commitment to Israel's security. This reflects our two countries' shared democratic values and the Coalition's strong recognition that Israel is under existential threat in a way that almost no other country in the world is." (Tony Abbott's election message)
Abbott's very impressed with what he calls "Jewish people": "Jewish people have succeeded in Australia because they've never taken anything for granted. Better products, new services, more effective salesmanship, and above everything, relentless curiosity have been the hallmarks of Jewish people in Australia, especially businesspeople..."
Finally, Abbott will "restore the Australia-Israel friendship to the strength it enjoyed under the Howard government."
For the rest, Abbott merely spruiks his Real Solutions Plan.
"The Australian Labor Party and the Coalition argue over many policy issues... But some issues should be bipartisan, and I am pleased to say that on the subject of Israel... both major parties are in agreement. The government of Australia supports the State of Israel, not just as an ally , but as a friend. Well before the birth of of the modern State of Israel, Australia has had deep ties with the Zionist dream... The Foreign Minister's recent comments about the international legal status of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories in no way diminishes my government's support for Israel... And it is my view that there is nothing to be gained from politicians publicly debating the finer points of international law in this immensely complex area." (Kevin Rudd's election message)
Typically, while "Labor is committed to supporting an enduring and just two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," it will be "based on the right of Israel to live in peace within secure borders," but merely "reflect the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to also live in peace and security within their own state."
Alas, "Israel faces very real threats beyond those arising from its conflicts with the Palestinians," such as "destabilisation in the region," and "a nuclear-armed Iran."
However: "Israel also faces threats of another kind from misguided programs such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign The federal government strongly opposes and publicly condemns the BDS. Our government expects all institutions in our society to behave in a manner that is ethical and appropriate, and Labor has made clear that in its view the BDS is neither."
Finally, while Labor supports Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, "Abbott has stated... his intent to repeal [it]."
Now here's Tony Abbott's, and like his candidate Jaymes Diaz in the seat of Greenway, he's not giving much away:
"The Coalition's traditionally strong support for the Jewish community has been matched by a firm commitment to Israel's security. This reflects our two countries' shared democratic values and the Coalition's strong recognition that Israel is under existential threat in a way that almost no other country in the world is." (Tony Abbott's election message)
Abbott's very impressed with what he calls "Jewish people": "Jewish people have succeeded in Australia because they've never taken anything for granted. Better products, new services, more effective salesmanship, and above everything, relentless curiosity have been the hallmarks of Jewish people in Australia, especially businesspeople..."
Finally, Abbott will "restore the Australia-Israel friendship to the strength it enjoyed under the Howard government."
For the rest, Abbott merely spruiks his Real Solutions Plan.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Odd Man Out
Remember the fuss back in 2011 when Marrickville Council decided to boycott Israeli products? Remember how it was derided by Labor's Anthony Albanese, in particular, for 'meddling' in a foreign policy issue? Remember how the NSW government of Baruch O'Farrell talked of sacking it? Well, cop this:
"A NSW parliamentary delegation, including a senior government minister, travelled to a disputed region in the Caucasus in defiance of a strong travel warning from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The delegation, which included the NSW Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, went to the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh last month, addressed its parliament and had meetings with its president. Nagorno Karabakh... is not internationally recognised as a country and is considered a breakaway region of Azerbaijan... The delegation's trip followed an extraordinary motion passed through the NSW upper house which, in effect, recognised Nagorno Karabakh as a separate country by recognising it had 'the right to self-determination', and calling on Australia to recognise its independence. The motion, which received no publicity, was passed without dissent last October without even the Foreign Minister being aware of it... Following this, the Armenian National Committee of Australia issued an invitation to NSW parliamentarians to visit Nagorno Karabakh. Christian Democrat Fred Nile said MPs had to pay for the trip themselves, which had reduced the number. The parliamentary delegation was made up of 7 MPs led by Liberal MP Jonathon O'Dea and including Mr Nile, Liberals David Clarke and Marie Ficarra, and Labor MLCs Shaoquett Moselmane and Amanda Fazio." (MPs defy Caucasus travel warning, Mark Coultan, The Australian, 30/8/13)
Perhaps the most puzzling part of the whole business is the inclusion of Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane. Why would an MLC who has courageously spoken up in the NSW Legislative Council in defence of Palestinian rights pay for a trip to anywhere with the likes of such pro-Israel zealots as Nile, Clarke, Ficarra and O'Dea?
"A NSW parliamentary delegation, including a senior government minister, travelled to a disputed region in the Caucasus in defiance of a strong travel warning from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The delegation, which included the NSW Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, went to the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh last month, addressed its parliament and had meetings with its president. Nagorno Karabakh... is not internationally recognised as a country and is considered a breakaway region of Azerbaijan... The delegation's trip followed an extraordinary motion passed through the NSW upper house which, in effect, recognised Nagorno Karabakh as a separate country by recognising it had 'the right to self-determination', and calling on Australia to recognise its independence. The motion, which received no publicity, was passed without dissent last October without even the Foreign Minister being aware of it... Following this, the Armenian National Committee of Australia issued an invitation to NSW parliamentarians to visit Nagorno Karabakh. Christian Democrat Fred Nile said MPs had to pay for the trip themselves, which had reduced the number. The parliamentary delegation was made up of 7 MPs led by Liberal MP Jonathon O'Dea and including Mr Nile, Liberals David Clarke and Marie Ficarra, and Labor MLCs Shaoquett Moselmane and Amanda Fazio." (MPs defy Caucasus travel warning, Mark Coultan, The Australian, 30/8/13)
Perhaps the most puzzling part of the whole business is the inclusion of Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane. Why would an MLC who has courageously spoken up in the NSW Legislative Council in defence of Palestinian rights pay for a trip to anywhere with the likes of such pro-Israel zealots as Nile, Clarke, Ficarra and O'Dea?
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Our Man in Tel Aviv 2
I always thought an ambassador's role, at least in part, was to spin for his country, not the country to which he's been posted.
So how is the appearance in this weekend's Australian of the following blatant pro-Israel propaganda by Australia's new ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, to be explained?
"[I]n the town of Safed in the north of Israel, better known as one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, the frontline of the conflict in Syria feels very close. At Ziv Medical Centre, without fanfare or publicity,* they are treating a steady and growing stream of wounded Syrians from the conflict. About 72 Syrian patients have been admitted to Ziv Medical Centre since February. When I visited earlier this week, 15 hospital beds were being used to treat such victims, the youngest a girl of only 8.
[*LOL]
"They have harrowing stories and horrific injuries. Suffering from shrapnel and bullet wounds, burns and crush injuries, they have somehow managed to limp to the border with Israel, from where they are then transferred to Ziv Medical Centre. On admission they are malnourished, fatigued and traumatised. Many have lost family members, but they are immensely relieved - if they had stayed in Syria, the extent of their injuries means most would have died or been permanently incapacitated. At Ziv Hospital they get all the best medical care on offer to any Israeli from surgeons and physicians who are the best in their field. On the day I visited, I saw how doctors had managed to save the leg of an 8-year old girl from amputation by use of some of the most advanced surgical techniques and injury treatment protocols. A 15-year old girl whose leg was amputated in Syria had been fitted with a prosthetic limb. Against the odds, the doctors at Ziv had managed to save her other leg. This girl was learning to walk again, taking her first steps.
"Arabic-speaking doctors, nurses and social workers are all available to communicate with the Syrian patients and help ease their anxieties. They are provided time and space to recover and rehabilitate and supplied with basic provisions, including clothes and toiletries donated by generous residents from Safed. The multi-ethnic staff at Ziv Hospital - drawn from the Jewish, Arab and Druze communities - reflect the diversity of Israel.* They do not stop to ask the patient's nationality or religion* as she is wheeled into theatre in a critical condition. They simply do their utmost to save life and treat injury.
[*Viva Israel's diversity - just so long as it has an overwhelming Jewish majority;**Unlike Israel's ruling ideology and apartheid laws which do.]
"Ziv Hospital is a profound example of humanity and decency at its most compelling. It is Israel at its very best, and a side of Israel that the world too rarely acknowledges." (Origin no bar to Israel lifesavers, 31/8/13)
So let's get this straight: while Australia's ambassador to China, Frances Adamson, is "clearly and directly convey[ing] the Australian government's views on the human rights situation in Tibet,"* our ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, is not only not doing the same with regard to Israeli human rights abuses in occupied Palestine, but instead unashamedly propagandizing for Israel in the Murdoch press.
[*Australian ambassador pulls no punches on human rights concerns after rare visit, Sydney Morning Herald, 30/8/13.]
So how is the appearance in this weekend's Australian of the following blatant pro-Israel propaganda by Australia's new ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, to be explained?
"[I]n the town of Safed in the north of Israel, better known as one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, the frontline of the conflict in Syria feels very close. At Ziv Medical Centre, without fanfare or publicity,* they are treating a steady and growing stream of wounded Syrians from the conflict. About 72 Syrian patients have been admitted to Ziv Medical Centre since February. When I visited earlier this week, 15 hospital beds were being used to treat such victims, the youngest a girl of only 8.
[*LOL]
"They have harrowing stories and horrific injuries. Suffering from shrapnel and bullet wounds, burns and crush injuries, they have somehow managed to limp to the border with Israel, from where they are then transferred to Ziv Medical Centre. On admission they are malnourished, fatigued and traumatised. Many have lost family members, but they are immensely relieved - if they had stayed in Syria, the extent of their injuries means most would have died or been permanently incapacitated. At Ziv Hospital they get all the best medical care on offer to any Israeli from surgeons and physicians who are the best in their field. On the day I visited, I saw how doctors had managed to save the leg of an 8-year old girl from amputation by use of some of the most advanced surgical techniques and injury treatment protocols. A 15-year old girl whose leg was amputated in Syria had been fitted with a prosthetic limb. Against the odds, the doctors at Ziv had managed to save her other leg. This girl was learning to walk again, taking her first steps.
"Arabic-speaking doctors, nurses and social workers are all available to communicate with the Syrian patients and help ease their anxieties. They are provided time and space to recover and rehabilitate and supplied with basic provisions, including clothes and toiletries donated by generous residents from Safed. The multi-ethnic staff at Ziv Hospital - drawn from the Jewish, Arab and Druze communities - reflect the diversity of Israel.* They do not stop to ask the patient's nationality or religion* as she is wheeled into theatre in a critical condition. They simply do their utmost to save life and treat injury.
[*Viva Israel's diversity - just so long as it has an overwhelming Jewish majority;**Unlike Israel's ruling ideology and apartheid laws which do.]
"Ziv Hospital is a profound example of humanity and decency at its most compelling. It is Israel at its very best, and a side of Israel that the world too rarely acknowledges." (Origin no bar to Israel lifesavers, 31/8/13)
So let's get this straight: while Australia's ambassador to China, Frances Adamson, is "clearly and directly convey[ing] the Australian government's views on the human rights situation in Tibet,"* our ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, is not only not doing the same with regard to Israeli human rights abuses in occupied Palestine, but instead unashamedly propagandizing for Israel in the Murdoch press.
[*Australian ambassador pulls no punches on human rights concerns after rare visit, Sydney Morning Herald, 30/8/13.]
Monday, September 2, 2013
Anti-BDS Water Torture at The Australian
In addition to the Australian's relentless barrage of anti-government propaganda last week, the jaded reader was subjected to a steady drip, drip, drip of BDS-bashing. (Warning - offended Jewish student coming up.):
28/8/13
Anti-Israel lobby defiant on uni rally, it screamed:
"Supporters of the anti-Israel BDS movement at Sydney University remain defiant in the face of legal action alleging they are breaching racial discrimination laws, and will protest on campus today... Professor Rees, who described the lawsuit as a threat to 'freedom of public debate and the voicing of dissent', will address the... rally today. He will be joined by NSW Greens Upper House MP David Shoebridge, who risks embarrassing federal leader Christine Milne... Asked if the rally would disrupt students in the library, a spokeswoman for SU... said students who felt intimidated... should contact university authorities." (Christian Kerr)
Peace body promotes conflict, screeched its editorialist:
"... arrogant display by the BDS... Sydney Peace Foundation director Stuart Rees and Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies director Jake Lynch would do better to start preparing for the Australian Human Rights Commission hearing they are due to face this week... We await the academics' justification for the BDS movement's absurd picketing of Max Brenner chocolate shops owned by a Jewish businessman... [I]n singling out Israel for derision, the SPF and the CPACS have said little of note about atrocities in Syria, Egypt and elsewhere..."
29/8/13
BDS academic to foot legal costs, it ranted:
"The academic at the centre of the SU BDS row will be left to cover his own legal costs as campus controversy over the anti-Israeli movement blazes... When asked yesterday about reports Jewish students felt offended and intimidated by the tenor of the BDS debate towards Israel, Professor Lynch said it was 'absolute nonsense'. 'You should see the hate mail I get as a result of taking a stand. They call me anti-Semitic,' he said... NSW Greens Legislative Council member David Shoebridge defied federal leader Christine Milne... The Australian understands that other NSW parliamentary Greens were angry at Mr Shoebridge... Alon Tal [cut to photo of gormless youth with caption: Offended; student Alon Tal], a Bachelor of Commerce and Law Student, was offended by the framing of the campaign 'As a Jew, my Zionism is inextricably linked with my Jewish identity so the fact that these people are calling for a boycott on Israel which is, essentially, calling for the destruction of Israel, it's really an affront to me,' he said. Professor Lynch claimed he had 'silks' lining up to offer pro bono legal support. 'It is a Rupert Murdoch nonsense, actually worse than nonsense, portraying that this is a movement to do with the abolition of Israel or that it is... anti-Semitic,' he said." (Christian Kerr/Rick Morton)
30/8/13
Call for Greens to come clean on Israel boycott, it droned... on and on and on and on...
Until, finally, some blessed relief in the form of a letter from Stuart Rees and Jake Lynch:
"We refer to the complaint against us to the Human Rights Commission by the Shurat HaDin law centre. There is no hearing scheduled, as your editor states (Peace body promotes conflict, 28/8). The commission is considering ending the complaint, which would put the onus back on the complainant. We are confident that no such case would succeed. In tackling wider issues, you seek to dismiss through bluster rather than argument, the view that discriminatory laws and practices, confining non-Jews to second-class status, put Israel in breach of the 1973 convention for the suppression and punishment of the crime of apartheid. This view was upheld by an international panel, commissioned by the social science research council of South Africa and published in 2009." (30/8/13)
28/8/13
Anti-Israel lobby defiant on uni rally, it screamed:
"Supporters of the anti-Israel BDS movement at Sydney University remain defiant in the face of legal action alleging they are breaching racial discrimination laws, and will protest on campus today... Professor Rees, who described the lawsuit as a threat to 'freedom of public debate and the voicing of dissent', will address the... rally today. He will be joined by NSW Greens Upper House MP David Shoebridge, who risks embarrassing federal leader Christine Milne... Asked if the rally would disrupt students in the library, a spokeswoman for SU... said students who felt intimidated... should contact university authorities." (Christian Kerr)
Peace body promotes conflict, screeched its editorialist:
"... arrogant display by the BDS... Sydney Peace Foundation director Stuart Rees and Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies director Jake Lynch would do better to start preparing for the Australian Human Rights Commission hearing they are due to face this week... We await the academics' justification for the BDS movement's absurd picketing of Max Brenner chocolate shops owned by a Jewish businessman... [I]n singling out Israel for derision, the SPF and the CPACS have said little of note about atrocities in Syria, Egypt and elsewhere..."
29/8/13
BDS academic to foot legal costs, it ranted:
"The academic at the centre of the SU BDS row will be left to cover his own legal costs as campus controversy over the anti-Israeli movement blazes... When asked yesterday about reports Jewish students felt offended and intimidated by the tenor of the BDS debate towards Israel, Professor Lynch said it was 'absolute nonsense'. 'You should see the hate mail I get as a result of taking a stand. They call me anti-Semitic,' he said... NSW Greens Legislative Council member David Shoebridge defied federal leader Christine Milne... The Australian understands that other NSW parliamentary Greens were angry at Mr Shoebridge... Alon Tal [cut to photo of gormless youth with caption: Offended; student Alon Tal], a Bachelor of Commerce and Law Student, was offended by the framing of the campaign 'As a Jew, my Zionism is inextricably linked with my Jewish identity so the fact that these people are calling for a boycott on Israel which is, essentially, calling for the destruction of Israel, it's really an affront to me,' he said. Professor Lynch claimed he had 'silks' lining up to offer pro bono legal support. 'It is a Rupert Murdoch nonsense, actually worse than nonsense, portraying that this is a movement to do with the abolition of Israel or that it is... anti-Semitic,' he said." (Christian Kerr/Rick Morton)
30/8/13
Call for Greens to come clean on Israel boycott, it droned... on and on and on and on...
Until, finally, some blessed relief in the form of a letter from Stuart Rees and Jake Lynch:
"We refer to the complaint against us to the Human Rights Commission by the Shurat HaDin law centre. There is no hearing scheduled, as your editor states (Peace body promotes conflict, 28/8). The commission is considering ending the complaint, which would put the onus back on the complainant. We are confident that no such case would succeed. In tackling wider issues, you seek to dismiss through bluster rather than argument, the view that discriminatory laws and practices, confining non-Jews to second-class status, put Israel in breach of the 1973 convention for the suppression and punishment of the crime of apartheid. This view was upheld by an international panel, commissioned by the social science research council of South Africa and published in 2009." (30/8/13)
Believe It or Not
1) The front page of yesterday's Sunday Telegraph contains a photo of Tony Abbott staring earnestly out at the reader over the following banner headline: AUSTRALIA NEEDS TONY.
2) Pages 46-47 contain a photo of Obama with the banner: I WILL PROTECT THEM. ('Them' meaning 'Syrians'. Arabs, for Christ's sake!)
2) Pages 46-47 contain a photo of Obama with the banner: I WILL PROTECT THEM. ('Them' meaning 'Syrians'. Arabs, for Christ's sake!)
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Heaps More Tel Aviv... An Occasional Jakarta
Hm... think of Tony Abbott and the first thing that springs to mind is his "sound foreign-policy pronouncements and his extensive experience walking the world stage," right?
No?
So who TF are you to disagree if the federal member for Kooyong, Josh Frydenberg, asserts that the above is the case?
"If the Coalition wins on September 7, Abbott, with Julie Bishop as his foreign minister, will ensure Australia more deeply and effectively engages with our region. 'More Jakarta, less Geneva' is the catchcry... The Opposition Leader understands the subtleties of the region. He has given speeches in Beijing, Tokyo and Jakarta about the opportunities that are presented to Australia by Asia's rising middle class." (Abbott has pedigree to restore Australia's reputation in region, The Australian, 30/8/13)
For the life of me I can't understand why Josh didn't include in the above catalogue, Toeknee's brilliant Indonesian boat buyback scheme.
OK, "[a] senior member of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling coalition said the buyback plan showed the Opposition Leader lacked understanding of Indonesia, and the broader asylum-seeker problem... 'This is a really crazy idea, unfriendly, derogatory and it shows a lack of understanding in this matter,' [he said]." (Jakarta furious over Abbott buyback plan, AAP, The Australian, 27/8/13)
But then, what would he - Mahfudz Siddiq - know? He's just the head of Indonesia's parliamentary commission for foreign affairs.
Other Indonesians are more discerning:
"Hikmahanto Juwana, an international affairs expert from the University of Indonesia, has described the plan as 'humiliating', and says it shows the Coalition has a poor understanding of its northern neighbour... He said buying the boats would cause the fishermen to lose their livelihoods and would lead to resentment and even conflict between the local population and foreigners." (ibid)
Well, maybe not.
But anyway, what would this Indonesian Hik know? The proven fact is that Australians know more about Indonesia than Indonesians do!
For example, a recent DFAT poll shows that, like their soon-to-be new leader, Toeknee Abbott, Australians have an astonishingly sophisticated understanding of Indonesia:
Almost 50% of Australians believe Indonesia is a threat to our national security; 47% believe that Indonesia is an Islamic state, not a democracy; 18% thought Indonesia had made no effort at all to combat people smuggling; 20% thought Bali was a country; and "the two words that Australians most associate with Indonesia were 'holiday' and 'Muslim'." (Indonesia threat to security, Bernard Lane, The Australian, 27/8/13)
Your Indo Hiks and Mahfudzies need to understand that it's only because we have such an Indonesia-literate population that we'll be electing a foreign policy sophisticate like Toeknee Abbott to the prime ministership next Saturday.
Finally, just between you, me and the wall, I know that 'More Jakarta, Less Geneva' is a pretty catchy little slogan but wouldn't 'Heaps more Tel Aviv, only marginally less Washington, an occasional Jakarta, and maybe the odd Geneva', though admittedly more cumbersome, better encapsulate our coming foreign policy?
No?
So who TF are you to disagree if the federal member for Kooyong, Josh Frydenberg, asserts that the above is the case?
"If the Coalition wins on September 7, Abbott, with Julie Bishop as his foreign minister, will ensure Australia more deeply and effectively engages with our region. 'More Jakarta, less Geneva' is the catchcry... The Opposition Leader understands the subtleties of the region. He has given speeches in Beijing, Tokyo and Jakarta about the opportunities that are presented to Australia by Asia's rising middle class." (Abbott has pedigree to restore Australia's reputation in region, The Australian, 30/8/13)
For the life of me I can't understand why Josh didn't include in the above catalogue, Toeknee's brilliant Indonesian boat buyback scheme.
OK, "[a] senior member of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling coalition said the buyback plan showed the Opposition Leader lacked understanding of Indonesia, and the broader asylum-seeker problem... 'This is a really crazy idea, unfriendly, derogatory and it shows a lack of understanding in this matter,' [he said]." (Jakarta furious over Abbott buyback plan, AAP, The Australian, 27/8/13)
But then, what would he - Mahfudz Siddiq - know? He's just the head of Indonesia's parliamentary commission for foreign affairs.
Other Indonesians are more discerning:
"Hikmahanto Juwana, an international affairs expert from the University of Indonesia, has described the plan as 'humiliating', and says it shows the Coalition has a poor understanding of its northern neighbour... He said buying the boats would cause the fishermen to lose their livelihoods and would lead to resentment and even conflict between the local population and foreigners." (ibid)
Well, maybe not.
But anyway, what would this Indonesian Hik know? The proven fact is that Australians know more about Indonesia than Indonesians do!
For example, a recent DFAT poll shows that, like their soon-to-be new leader, Toeknee Abbott, Australians have an astonishingly sophisticated understanding of Indonesia:
Almost 50% of Australians believe Indonesia is a threat to our national security; 47% believe that Indonesia is an Islamic state, not a democracy; 18% thought Indonesia had made no effort at all to combat people smuggling; 20% thought Bali was a country; and "the two words that Australians most associate with Indonesia were 'holiday' and 'Muslim'." (Indonesia threat to security, Bernard Lane, The Australian, 27/8/13)
Your Indo Hiks and Mahfudzies need to understand that it's only because we have such an Indonesia-literate population that we'll be electing a foreign policy sophisticate like Toeknee Abbott to the prime ministership next Saturday.
Finally, just between you, me and the wall, I know that 'More Jakarta, Less Geneva' is a pretty catchy little slogan but wouldn't 'Heaps more Tel Aviv, only marginally less Washington, an occasional Jakarta, and maybe the odd Geneva', though admittedly more cumbersome, better encapsulate our coming foreign policy?
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