SPEECH BY
MR. IMRON COTAN, CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I.
ON THE OCCASION OF THE UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE
TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST SITE OF INDONESIA'S EMBASSY IN AUSTRALIA
Canberra, 19 November 2002
In the name of God the most compassionate and merciful
May peace be upon all of us,Excellencies, Ambassadors of ASEAN Countries,
Mrs. Anne-Marie Schwirtlich,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,At the outset may I take this opportunity to extend my sincerest gratitude to the National Archives of Australia for its willingness to co-host with the Indonesian Embassy this function to unveil a permanent plaque to commemorate the first site of the Indonesian Embassy in Australia. It is indeed an honor for the government and people of Indonesia to be accorded such extraordinary attention and appreciation of a long-forgotten - yet significant - chapter in the history of Indonesia's diplomatic presence in Australia. Our words of appreciation should also go to Mr. Anthony Eastaway who has put tremendous efforts to make this event possible.
We are indeed grateful, but in a broader context, and perhaps more importantly, we also see this plaque as a very useful and pertinent reminder to visitors to this building and beyond of Indonesia's long drawn out struggle for independence from Dutch colonial oppression, and of Australia's encouragement, sympathy and active support for our cause.
It was indeed in the crucible of war and the revolutionary environment of the 1940s that Indonesia and Australia first discovered each other and in the process found that they had much in common at both personal and political level. Following the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in 1943, Australia became a friendly host for thousands of Indonesians; one estimate places it as high as 10,000 Indonesians in Australia during this period. Several hundred of those had been sent here against their will from exile in Boven Digul near Merauke in Dutch New Guinea and inappropriately interned for several months at the Cowra Prisoner of War camp. They were neither enemies of the allies nor prisoners of war, but political prisoners of the Dutch. Few could argue with the assertion that many of the Indonesians in Australia in these post-war years were our first ambassadors, for most if not all were firmly committed to an independent republic at home. The news of the proclamation of independence on 17 August 1945 was definitely a major turning point, but other events in Australia, such as the boycotts of the Dutch shipping, were also of critical importance in shaping world opinion and for creating support for an independent Indonesia among Australians as well as encouraging Indonesians in Australia. The attitude of the Australian government towards Indonesia was changing too and from 1947 - 1949, Australia was clearly the most prominent ally of the newly proclaimed republic. The involvement of Australia in referring the Indonesian question to the United Nations following the first Dutch military campaign in July 1947 and of its efforts to uphold the legitimacy of the Republic in the United Nations after the second Dutch military campaign of December 1948, is well documented and further cemented the relationship and friendship between the two countries.
The question of Indonesia's formal diplomatic representation in Australia after 17 August 1945 was one which was canvassed from time to time but understandably it was a difficult issue, and particularly for Australia, in the light of the politics of the day. There were two governments in Indonesia, a Netherlands Indies government - to which Australia was accredited - and a Republican government, while Indonesians and Australians both had a long tradition that their economic, educational and cultural relations should be conducted with the Netherlands and Britain respectively.
To its credit, Australia felt it was entitled to pursue economic relations with the Republican government and to accept its informal representative, Mr. C.H. Campbell, an Australian businessman who was officially appointed by Prime Minister Sjahrir of Indonesia as the Republic's Temporary Trade Commissioner in Australia at the end of 1946. But in response to a strong preference for an Indonesian, Sjahrir in June 1947 sent Dr. Usman Sastroamidjojo to Australia, adding that while the Republican authorities greatly desired to be represented in Australia, they would have no objection to this representation being on an entirely informal basis or without official endorsement from the Australian government. Albeit informally, the appointment of Dr. Usman as the Indonesian representative in Australia marked the establishment of our first overseas representative.
Certainly, not all concurred with the presence of Indonesia in Australia. The Royal Netherlands Legation for one formally complained to the Australian Department of External Affairs about the continued presence of Dr. Usman in Australia and that as his mission was considered to be completed, he should return to Indonesia. Instead, Dr. Usman continued his activities prompting some quarters, notably the Royal Netherlands Legation, to take nasty attitudes against him. The Legation had gone even further by calling on the Australian government to recommend to Dr. Usman that he confine himself strictly to the purpose of his mission and abstain from political activities. As one might rightly assume, the call was gone unheeded.
I have deliberately sidetracked a little to make these observations, because in my view they shed valuable light on the climate prevailing at that time, but also upon the eagerness of both sides to enter into a permanent and long-term relationship in the interests of the two countries.
Dr. Usman was not sent home after all, in fact on 28 December 1949, the day after the sovereignty of Indonesia became absolute and the Dutch East Indies finally ceased to exist, Dr. Mohammad Hatta informed Australia of the appointment of Dr. Usman as Special Political Representative to take charge of Indonesian interests in Australia, pending a formal exchange of diplomatic representatives. On 17 March 1950, the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Australia and the Republic of Indonesia, at the Embassy level, was announced. Dr. Usman was appointed Charge d'Affaires a.i. and with his small staff occupied, as we now know, Room 22, here in East Block. Dr. Usman left Australia on 5 July 1950 and replaced by Ambassador Oetojo Ramelan. The Embassy of course moved subsequently into larger premises in Deakin and then, in August 1971, into our current permanent home in the Canberra suburb of Yarralumla.
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,As the first official site of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, this building has been a historical witness for Indonesian diplomacy in its efforts to establish contacts and cooperation with Australia and for a world order based on freedom, peace and social justice. We all can observe how both countries are striving towards good relations in many fields, not only at the government level, but at the 'people-to-people' level as well. I am proud to state that with the unveiling of this plaque the National Archives of Australia will hereinafter become a key part of our history and a valuable symbol of our future.
Therefore, to commemorate that historic moment in time, allow me to officially unveil the plaque, which will be permanently part of this building, hoping that it would provide priceless information to visitors to the Archives about the history of the diplomatic relationship between our two countries. I think it is only appropriate to conclude my speech by quoting former Minister for External Affairs Percy Spender who stated in a letter addressed to Dr. Hatta in December 1949, as follows: 'As a near neighbour, Australia has a deep and constant interest in the well-being and prosperity of Indonesia, and we look forward to most intimate and friendly relations with you.' I think we all agree with these sentiments, perhaps even more so today.
Finally, may the Almighty God shower us with his divine blessings enabling us therefore to further excel the relations between our two great nations.
Thank you.
Canberra, 19 November 2002
Imron Cotan
Charge d'Affaires/Minister
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Canberra - Australia
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:: Events in Pictures: The Unveiling of a Permanent Plaque to Commemorate The First Site of The Indonesian Embassy in Australia, 19 November 2002