Forum on Indonesia
Political Sea Change in International Sea Lanes

Sponsored by:

The Asia Foundation

Time:

June 28, 2000, 3:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m

Place:

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan Map

After the collapse of the Suharto regime, Indonesians today enjoy freedoms of speech and association denied to them for decades. At the same time, questions are being asked as to just how well the government can cope under conflicting pressures from nationalists and secessionists, Muslims and Christians, as well as a wealthy elite and millions of poor.

How the world's third largest democracy weathers its storms is a matter of great interest to the entire Asian region. Indonesia lies across strategic sea lanes through which Japan receives its petroleum and sends manufactured goods to many of its markets; Indonesia is also the largest member of ASEAN, the only functioning regional multilateral organization. An Indonesia weakened by internal problems raises concerns for the U.S., Japan, Australia and other countries in the area.

Speakers:
Doug Ramage, Representative, The Asia Foundation, Jakarta, author "Politics in Indonesia: Democracy, Islam and the Ideology of Compromise;"
Hamish McDonald, Foreign Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, author, "Suharto's Indonesia;"
Masashi Nishihara, President, Japan Defense Academy, author, "The Japanese and Sukarno's Indonesia;"
Rizal Sukma, Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta, author "Indonesia and China: The Politics of a Troubled Relationship."