This 'punching bag' will bounce back, says MM
SINGAPORE is a convenient punching bag for Indonesian law-makers — that is why they have been making loud protests over the defence treaty signed between the two countries recently.
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That was the view of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew when asked to comment on the ongoing spat over the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) and the Extradition Treaty.
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At the people-to-people level, the Indonesian public knows that Singapore meant no harm to Indonesia, said Mr Lee at a forum in Jakarta on Indonesia's Vision for Year 2030.
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"But at the rhetoric level — for the media — it is convenient to have me as a punching bag. I'm accustomed to being a punching bag. I'll bounce back," Mr Lee said, referring to the law-makers' rejection of the DCA.
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The Minister Mentor brushed aside allegations that the DCA would allow Singapore to infringe on Indonesia's sovereignty. He pointed out that Singapore's armed forces have conducted training in Indonesia's territories for more than 20 years.
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"At the end of the day, you're a big country, we're a little red dot. But please give this little red dot a certain breathing space. We need to have our obligations homoured."
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Mr Lee stressed that the DCA must be honoured. "Otherwise, every time you want to get something from us you would say — if you don't do this, I'll do that."
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Mr Lee also explained that the Indonesian government had cancelled Singapore's military training arrangements in Indonesia. Jakarta also stopped exporting sand to get the Extradition Treaty with Singapore backdated by 15 years.
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On the Extradition Treaty, the Minster Mentor said that Singapore's fund industry would not go into a steep decline if Indonesia were to pull out the money allegedly being hidden in Singapore.
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He clarified that only about 3 per cent, or US$30 billion ($45 billion), of the US$890-billion foreign fund managed in Singapore, is from Indonesia.
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Apart from his appearance at the forum, Mr Lee, accompanied by Mrs Lee on a six-day trip to Jakarta, also took time out to see two former Indonesian heads of state yesterday.
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The first stop was a private visit to Mr Su-harto's house in Jakarta. The former President, who stepped down in 1998, appeared to be in good health, spending half an hour with the Lees before sending them off.
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The two men last met during Mr Lee's visit to Indonesia last year.
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The Minister Mentor also met another former President, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, at her residence.
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According to Ms Megawati, who is expected to run again in the next presidential election, Indonesia's political situation was among the topics discussed during their 30-minute meeting. — Channel NewsAsia
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
is it the first time we know the real reasons of sand ban
and cancellation of military training in Indonesia?
Friday, July 27, 2007
This 'punching bag' will bounce back, says MM
2.Is it ''political democracy'' to force millions of parentsOriginally posted by googoomuck:Lee very late in understanding changes in RI : legislator
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Senior Singaporean politician Lee Kuan Yew is very late in understanding the political changes that have happened in Indonesia, a legislator said.
.........
As to political democracy, according to Pareira, Singapore still needed to learn much, including from Indonesia.(*)
Antara News.
I really hoped Indonesia will go back the days of former President Suharto in which booming economy is good for the citizenOriginally posted by Mat Toro:This new political reality of Indonesia doesn't seem like its good for the country then. thats the political reality that this Pareira need to understand.
With people like those in DPR, Indonesia can hardly progress in a good manner. Fortunately President SBY is still a good person to lead the country.Originally posted by Mat Toro:I remembered that back then, decisions were fast and direct. The suharto regime could do long term and big scale planning to shape Isia and they were successful in many respect. There were no terrorists cos all of them would have been dead.
Corruption exists then but you need only to pay one party. Now you don't even know who to pay.
The power structure has changed already. This is the reason many Chinese Indonesian come here to work n study.Originally posted by Mat Toro:but it seems he is powerless to these rhetorics in parliament and it is hurting Isia.
MM Lee probably still hoped Suharto is still the president of Indonesia.Originally posted by googoomuck:Suharto is all washed up. Forget about trying to forge a friendship.
In politics and economics negotiations, itÂ’s about using good bargaining chips for successful negotiation that benefits both sides.