One of the top trending stories
in Indonesia is combining international relations, social protest and
viral memes in order to lambast the Australian government.
#coinforAbbott
has taken Indonesia by storm after Australian Prime Minister Tony
Abbott’s latest plea to Jakarta to commute the executions of two
Australians convicted of drug trafficking. During his speech Abbott
hamfistedly sought to remind Indonesians of the A$1 billion ($780
million) donated by Canberra to the 2004 tsunami relief effort.
in Indonesia is combining international relations, social protest and
viral memes in order to lambast the Australian government.
#coinforAbbott
has taken Indonesia by storm after Australian Prime Minister Tony
Abbott’s latest plea to Jakarta to commute the executions of two
Australians convicted of drug trafficking. During his speech Abbott
hamfistedly sought to remind Indonesians of the A$1 billion ($780
million) donated by Canberra to the 2004 tsunami relief effort.
This
has sparked outrage in the country with many condemning the Prime
Minister for seeking to leverage previous charitable acts in order to
pressure Jakarta to change its policies. The #coinforAbbott campaign
seeks to engage Indonesia’s 250 million people to donate pocket
change to “pay back” the A$1 billion given in 2004. Australia’s
public image has suffered badly, with protesters exclaiming that
“Australians
needs a Prime Minister, not a Shylock (a reference to the
heartless moneylender in Shakespeare’s Merchant
of Venice) and
drug dealer’s cousin.”
has sparked outrage in the country with many condemning the Prime
Minister for seeking to leverage previous charitable acts in order to
pressure Jakarta to change its policies. The #coinforAbbott campaign
seeks to engage Indonesia’s 250 million people to donate pocket
change to “pay back” the A$1 billion given in 2004. Australia’s
public image has suffered badly, with protesters exclaiming that
“Australians
needs a Prime Minister, not a Shylock (a reference to the
heartless moneylender in Shakespeare’s Merchant
of Venice) and
drug dealer’s cousin.”
Indonesia
has some of the harshest drug penalties in the world, and the new
President – Joko Widodo – has taken a hard-line stance on corruption
and organized crime. Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chen
were convicted in 2005 as part of the so called Bali Nine, a group
found guilty of attempting
to smuggle $3 million worth of heroin. Sukumaran and Chen were
identified as the ring leaders and sentenced to death in 2006. Since
then they have been in legal limbo as Australia and Indonesia have
engaged in talks. Prior to the election of Widodo, Indonesia had
abstained from executions for five years, raising Canberra’s hopes
for leniency towards Sukumaran and Chen.
has some of the harshest drug penalties in the world, and the new
President – Joko Widodo – has taken a hard-line stance on corruption
and organized crime. Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chen
were convicted in 2005 as part of the so called Bali Nine, a group
found guilty of attempting
to smuggle $3 million worth of heroin. Sukumaran and Chen were
identified as the ring leaders and sentenced to death in 2006. Since
then they have been in legal limbo as Australia and Indonesia have
engaged in talks. Prior to the election of Widodo, Indonesia had
abstained from executions for five years, raising Canberra’s hopes
for leniency towards Sukumaran and Chen.
| Andrew Chen (L) and Myuran Sukumaran Image Credit: Reuters |
In 2014
the Widodo regime chose to resume already slated executions, severely
worrying Australia, given that Jakarta has already (via firing squad)
executed other foreigners convicted of drug trafficking. France has
voiced concern over its citizens held in Indonesia, and both the
Netherlands and Brazil have recalled their ambassadors following the
execution of fellow countrymen. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
recently refused to accept the credentials of the Indonesian
ambassador. Deteriorating relations have also led Indonesia to
re-evaluate
plans to purchase fighter aircraft and rocket launchers from
Brazil.
the Widodo regime chose to resume already slated executions, severely
worrying Australia, given that Jakarta has already (via firing squad)
executed other foreigners convicted of drug trafficking. France has
voiced concern over its citizens held in Indonesia, and both the
Netherlands and Brazil have recalled their ambassadors following the
execution of fellow countrymen. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
recently refused to accept the credentials of the Indonesian
ambassador. Deteriorating relations have also led Indonesia to
re-evaluate
plans to purchase fighter aircraft and rocket launchers from
Brazil.
The plight
of Sukumaran and Chen has galvanized large sections of the Australian
populace. While Australians recognize the need for the two men to be
punished, the country’s opposition is due to its strong anti-death
penalty views. This is evidenced by the fact that a petition
orchestrated by Mercy Campaign urging leniency has garnered over
150,000 signatures. Moreover, alongside the Prime Minister, the
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, and all Australian governor-generals
have also publicly called for Indonesia to commute the sentences to
life in prison. In response the Indonesian courts have rejected calls
from the prisoners themselves and from overseas, stating that
“clemency is
the prerogative of the President […] the state administrative court
has no right to rule on the challenge.”
of Sukumaran and Chen has galvanized large sections of the Australian
populace. While Australians recognize the need for the two men to be
punished, the country’s opposition is due to its strong anti-death
penalty views. This is evidenced by the fact that a petition
orchestrated by Mercy Campaign urging leniency has garnered over
150,000 signatures. Moreover, alongside the Prime Minister, the
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, and all Australian governor-generals
have also publicly called for Indonesia to commute the sentences to
life in prison. In response the Indonesian courts have rejected calls
from the prisoners themselves and from overseas, stating that
“clemency is
the prerogative of the President […] the state administrative court
has no right to rule on the challenge.”
The Bali
Nine have become a poster child for Indonesian efforts to rid itself
of (many foreign) drug traffickers. The firm ruling by Jakarta is a
signal of its seriousness, as well as an opportunity to exert its
sovereignty. Anti-colonial rhetoric has played a part in opposition
to Australia in recent days, with Abbott’s comments seen as
portraying Indonesia as beholden to Canberra’s largesse. President
Widodo is popular at home and Abbott’s comments provide a perfect
opportunity to tie anti-drug efforts to buoyed nationalist sentiment.
Consequently clemency from President Widodo appears even more
unlikely in the wake of Abbott’s reference to the 2004 tsunami.
Nine have become a poster child for Indonesian efforts to rid itself
of (many foreign) drug traffickers. The firm ruling by Jakarta is a
signal of its seriousness, as well as an opportunity to exert its
sovereignty. Anti-colonial rhetoric has played a part in opposition
to Australia in recent days, with Abbott’s comments seen as
portraying Indonesia as beholden to Canberra’s largesse. President
Widodo is popular at home and Abbott’s comments provide a perfect
opportunity to tie anti-drug efforts to buoyed nationalist sentiment.
Consequently clemency from President Widodo appears even more
unlikely in the wake of Abbott’s reference to the 2004 tsunami.
| Prime Minister Abbott (L.) & President Widodo Image Credit: Reuters |
Indeed the
#coinforAbbott campaign originated in Aceh, the very region at the
epicenter of the tsunami which killed over 100,000 people in said
area alone. One of the founders of #coinforabbott, Mr. Rian
criticized Abbott’s statement as being highly unproductive and
counter to Australian interests in the region. Rian considers Abbott
statements in bad taste given the benefits Australia enjoys. There
are “many areas of co-operation between the Australian government
and the Indonesian government. It
is the Australian government who benefits from the co-operation
[…] so, don’t you ever mention something as tiny as $1 billion in
relief for us.” Australia cooperates with Indonesia on
counter-terrorism, defense, and border security issues as well as
legal framework development. Indonesia is also a major economic
partner for Australia.
#coinforAbbott campaign originated in Aceh, the very region at the
epicenter of the tsunami which killed over 100,000 people in said
area alone. One of the founders of #coinforabbott, Mr. Rian
criticized Abbott’s statement as being highly unproductive and
counter to Australian interests in the region. Rian considers Abbott
statements in bad taste given the benefits Australia enjoys. There
are “many areas of co-operation between the Australian government
and the Indonesian government. It
is the Australian government who benefits from the co-operation
[…] so, don’t you ever mention something as tiny as $1 billion in
relief for us.” Australia cooperates with Indonesia on
counter-terrorism, defense, and border security issues as well as
legal framework development. Indonesia is also a major economic
partner for Australia.
The
Australian government has warned of political fallout if the
executions are carried out, with Foreign Minister Bishop mentioning
that such
an eventuality could lead to Australian tourists boycotting
Indonesia. Bali is a popular holiday destination for Australians
and would suffer greatly, since it has had to contend with the 2002
Bali bombings as well as another attack in 2005 coupled with
rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami. Alongside tourism, bilateral trade
stood at $10.64
billion in 2014, with Indonesia a major export market for
Australian cattle and beef, as well as grains, crude petroleum,
aluminum and cotton.
Australian government has warned of political fallout if the
executions are carried out, with Foreign Minister Bishop mentioning
that such
an eventuality could lead to Australian tourists boycotting
Indonesia. Bali is a popular holiday destination for Australians
and would suffer greatly, since it has had to contend with the 2002
Bali bombings as well as another attack in 2005 coupled with
rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami. Alongside tourism, bilateral trade
stood at $10.64
billion in 2014, with Indonesia a major export market for
Australian cattle and beef, as well as grains, crude petroleum,
aluminum and cotton.
Deteriorating
relations are beginning to generate uncertainty, especially in the
beef industry and live cattle trade. The Australian live cattle
export industry was shut down in 2011 following animal cruelty
charges against Indonesian abattoirs processing Australian cattle.
The Australian cattle industry is slowly recovering with producers
still relying on the large Indonesian market, yet for Q12015 Jakarta
has only issued 100,000 import permits, a
third less than the same time last year.
relations are beginning to generate uncertainty, especially in the
beef industry and live cattle trade. The Australian live cattle
export industry was shut down in 2011 following animal cruelty
charges against Indonesian abattoirs processing Australian cattle.
The Australian cattle industry is slowly recovering with producers
still relying on the large Indonesian market, yet for Q12015 Jakarta
has only issued 100,000 import permits, a
third less than the same time last year.
This reduction has
coincided with Indonesia restricting imports of boxed beef to primary
cuts and manufacturing beef. At the end of January the Indonesian
trade minister instructed Indonesian beef producers to lower their
prices. These measures are part of President Widodo’s ongoing efforts
to increase Indonesian self-sufficiency; yet it is clear that
restricting Australian beef imports also works as punishment for
Canberra’s interference in the Bali Nine trials.
coincided with Indonesia restricting imports of boxed beef to primary
cuts and manufacturing beef. At the end of January the Indonesian
trade minister instructed Indonesian beef producers to lower their
prices. These measures are part of President Widodo’s ongoing efforts
to increase Indonesian self-sufficiency; yet it is clear that
restricting Australian beef imports also works as punishment for
Canberra’s interference in the Bali Nine trials.
Australia’s
insistence in pressuring Indonesia on the Bali Nine issue has
resulted in strong push-back from Jakarta. Tony Abbott came to power
with a pro-business mandate promising pragmatic solutions to boost
the economy. Abbott also holds strong personal convictions on moral
issues such as the death penalty, euthanasia and abortion. He must
now walk a fine line if he wishes to retain the moral high ground and
not simultaneously alienate a major trading partner. As of this week
that line became a lot thinner.
insistence in pressuring Indonesia on the Bali Nine issue has
resulted in strong push-back from Jakarta. Tony Abbott came to power
with a pro-business mandate promising pragmatic solutions to boost
the economy. Abbott also holds strong personal convictions on moral
issues such as the death penalty, euthanasia and abortion. He must
now walk a fine line if he wishes to retain the moral high ground and
not simultaneously alienate a major trading partner. As of this week
that line became a lot thinner.
This article was originally written for Global Risk Insights