Lindsay Murdoch – Probably more than any other country Indonesia needs international help as it undergoes a historic and difficult transition from dictatorship to democracy. But its leaders are showing deep resentment to outside criticism, particularly from Western countries, and a propensity to blame others when the Government falters.
And this could cost it international goodwill. Many countries, including Australia, are disappointed at the performance of the new Defence Minister, Mr Mohamad Mahfud. Diplomats in Jakarta saw an attempt by Mr Mahfud last week to shift blame from his Government to Australia over the killing of three UN aid workers in the West Timor town of Atambua on September 6 as outrageous.
Until Mr Mahfud apologises for the accusations, which got wide coverage in Indonesia's media and could endanger the lives of Australians in Indonesia, it will be difficult for Australian ministers and defence chiefs to give him respect.
Mr Mahfud and the Vice-President, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, have been claiming, without any evidence, that East Timorese are regretting their vote last year to separate from Indonesia.
Mr Mahfud even counter-attacked the US's tough-talking Defence Secretary, Mr William Cohen, who was in Jakarta on Monday to demand the disarming of the West Timor militias. The Americans should not forget that in "the Vietcong case, the Government needed 10 years to disarm the militias", he said.
The target of much of the criticism among Jakarta's political elite is America's outspoken ambassador in Jakarta, Mr Robert Gelbard, who has warned that Indonesia's intelligence agencies are failing to focus on terrorist networks setting up bases in the country. Mr Gelbard has also taken a tough stand against the failure of the government to disband militias in West Timor.
"If Gelbard continues to interfere ... I will write to Bill Clinton to withdraw ambassador Gelbard back home," said Dr Amien Rais, the parliamentary Speaker. Dr Rais said Indonesians should not be afraid of pressure from the US or any other country. "If the US wants to chastise and stand cockily with hands on hips, and we withdraw, we'll be considered weak."
It appears as if Indonesia has yet to overcome its humiliation at losing East Timor. The country's new leaders prefer to look towards their Islamic brothers and sisters in the Middle East than to Western countries like the US, which they see as hectoring and lecturing, diplomats say.
Mr Cohen delivered an unpalatable ultimatum this week: disband the militias in West Timor or face cuts in international economic support. The importance of this could not be missed on a country that has more than $US12 billion in loans outstanding to the World Bank and desperately needs continuing financial assistance just to stay afloat.