Better hate than never
What’s ethical government policy - to support the wholesome hopes of millions of sports fans and young music lovers - or deny them joy by pacifying radicals with another agenda?
These questions are being asked in Indonesia during the run-up to next year’s election, with the tone already dashing downhill. The answer demeans the world’s third-largest democracy and its national motto - Bhinneka Tunggal Ika - Unity in Diversity.
Outbursts of antisemitism and homophobia are poisoning the over-crowded nation’s well of respect for difference, and its tradition of living in harmony.
It shows the Republic has still to find a champion prepared to confront illiberalism and restore the ‘moderate’ trademark. There was one - fourth President Abdurrahman ‘Gus Dur’ Wahid - but he’s gone and his successors are turning to appeasement edged with fear.
The latest assumed threat is the Brit band Coldplay, set to perform in Jakarta in mid-November, delighting its fans and horrifying fundamentalists. The band is famous for its ‘infectious joy’ , philanthropy and support for LGBTQ people.
The zealots (including those who follow the Nazarene though not his message of inclusivity), picture concertgoers cheering the band’s chart-topper Viva La Vida (Live Life) and turning gay. The idea comes from watching movies where Clark Kent changes into a flying android when the music becomes dramatic.
Then there’s sport. Earlier this year the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) cancelled Indonesia as host of the U20 World Games after two provincial governors opposed the event because young Israelis would compete.
Indonesians are nuts about soccer which they play badly. Having the U20 in Indonesia meant millions would get to see the Beautiful Game at its peak and players learn new skills. That chance went to Argentina.
Now it seems Indonesia will miss the World Beach Games scheduled for Bali this August. It's a multi-sport event run by the Association of National Olympic Committees featuring non-Olympic beach and water sports primarily for the teen to mid-30s cohort.
Israel is expected to participate, so unless there’s a policy somersault since the U20 fiasco it seems the Beach Games will have to be shifted to a location where inclusion is celebrated.
That used to be Indonesia, home to more than 600 ethnicities: As The Jakarta Post editorialised: ‘Our diversity, whether by race or ethnicity, religion, culture or language, and yes, sexual orientation, requires tolerance to ensure peaceful coexistence across the archipelago.’
When mixing sport, entertainment and politics, Indonesian governments are skilled at scoring their own goals - and on world stadia. The irony is that last November the Republic’s global reputation soared for the successful G20 economic summit in Bali.
The antisemites say they’re upholding a preamble to the 1945 Constitution claiming ‘independence is the inalienable right of every nation, therefore, colonialisation on earth must be abolished’. There’s no evidence that banning Israeli athletes will hasten that goal.
Australia supported the independence of Indonesia, and along with the US strong-armed the Netherlands into quitting its former colony in 1949.
Although ‘colonialism’ has largely disappeared from the lexicons of foreign affairs, in Indonesia it’s been resuscitated by the ultra-religious and morphed into hatred of a nation rather than the policies of its governments.
Pew research claims ‘fully 40 per cent of Israeli Jews say their own government is not making a sincere effort toward peace, and an equal share of Israeli Arabs say the same about Palestinian leaders.’
The sporties from the Holy Land may not be Jews or support the nation’s policies on Palestine. About 40 per cent of Israelis are secular and 14 per cent Muslim.
After the 2019 Indonesian election Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi reaffirmed her nation’s ‘commitment and support for the struggle of Palestinian independence will never diminish.’
Steps to settle the ‘Palestine Question’ can continue with vigour in the UN and other fora, unimpeded by Israeli footprints on Bali beaches.The issue may be raised by President Joko ’Jokowi’ Widodo during his visit to Australia next month.
The Indonesian Constitution doesn’t authorise the penalising of ordinary citizens because they were born in a particular territory, a factor over which they had no control.
Such facts bounce off nervous politicians who dread any display of sufferance will cause an eruption of great wrath across the land, its traditions crushed by lava flows of Western woke. It’s also insulting, suggesting Indonesians’ grip on their values is tenuous.
There are six Islamic political parties in Indonesia, too small to succeed alone so need to cosy up to the majors by promising voters in return for ministries, much like the Nats in Australia.
The current class of psephologists assume the pious will determine who gets the throne, so best soothe the glaring fist-thrusters.
Few dare call out this theory lest a rebuff alienates voters. One who has is Endy Bayuni, former editor of The Jakarta Post, reminding that in the last election, the two biggest Islamic-based parties together drew only 13 per cent of the vote.
‘Fear of Islamism is widely exaggerated,’ he wrote. ‘Islamist parties naturally sought to capitalize on conservatism, but they fooled no one. Voters may share a conservative agenda, but they draw the line at an Islamist agenda.’
The late President Gus Dur - who visited Israel six times, braving contrived fury each time he returned, said: ‘I think there is a wrong perception that Islam is in disagreement with Israel. This is caused by Arab propaganda. We have to distinguish between Arabs and Islam.
‘I always say that China and the Soviet Union have or had atheism as part of their Constitution, but we have long-term relationships with both these countries.’
His comments were made almost two decades ago. Since then widespread reports allege that Chinese authorities have been forcibly ‘re-educating’ Islamic minorities, mainly ethnic Uyghur in the Xinjiang region. There are around 11 million Muslims in the northwest of the country.
Many claims of Communist persecution come from the US so need to be treated with caution, but they’ve been widely published in Indonesia so might be expected to inflame.
There’s been no campaign to stop Chinese loans funding massive infrastructure projects across the archipelago, with Chinese workers often involved.
Maybe the athletes would be welcome if Israel became a major investor.
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First published in Michael West Media, 29 June 2023: https://michaelwest.com.au/archipela-no-go-global-soccer-then-coldplay-fall-foul-of-rising-homophobia-anti-israel-sentiment-in-indonesia/
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