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WHEN Prime Minister Howard travelled to Indonesia this year, he was snubbed by a number of leading Indonesian politicians, among them most notably Amien Rais.1 According to media reports, Rais, the influential speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly, cancelled a planned meeting with Mr Howard because he believed Australia was supporting independence movements in West Papua and Aceh.2 This was a charge that the Prime Minister naturally denied. After all, it was something for which neither he nor his Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had ever expressed support.
The truth is that taxpayer-funded Australian non-government organizations (NGOs) are supporting independence movements in Indonesia. And Indonesia is not the only country where the Australian taxpayer is footing the bill so that NGOs can agitate in support of policies that are contrary to the official foreign affairs' line. To Indonesian eyes, these actions appear 'Australian'. After all, these are Australian-based organizations, staffed by Australians, receiving Australian Government money and boasting links to the highest levels of Australian society.
Australians should be allowed to support independence movements in Indonesia and elsewhere with their own money and resources-so long as they do so lawfully. It is an entirely different matter for NGOs which are carrying out aid projects on behalf of the Australian Government. They have responsibilities first to guarantee the safety of their workers, but more importantly to see that aid is delivered in a professional and impartial manner.
It is clear that Australian foreign-- aid NGOs played an important role in facilitating Australian involvement in East Timor. Although it was ultimately the decision of the Howard Government to intervene directly, Australian NGOs and activists played a vital role in keeping the issue of East Timorese independence on the agenda, generating favourable media reports, aiding demonstrations, lobbying politicians, and raising the matter at international fora and the like.3
As Michelle Grattan wrote during the Prime Minister's recent visit to Indonesia:
The fears held-despite Australian denials-by many Indonesians about West Papua are understandable. After all, it's only several years ago that Australia said-and certainly believed-that East Timor should remain part of Indonesia. International circumstances and Australian opinion changed. Some Indonesians no doubt believe the same metamorphosis of opinion may happen with West Papua.4
Given their obvious importance to fledgling...