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
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
"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.
.
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.
.
"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."
.
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."
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
The two men last met during Mr Lee's visit to Indonesia last
year.
.
The Minister Mentor also met another former President, Ms Megawati
Sukarnoputri, at her residence.
.
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
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