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Compared to our previous presidents state visits, President SBY arrival in India faced with a cold soulder by Indian media.
A week before president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid arrival, some major Indian newspapers published special op-ed articles about Indonesia-India relation from historical perspectives and about Gus Dur himself known for his secular, pluralism way of thinking as well as a figure with international stature
Likewise, a week before president Megawati Sukarnoputri arrival even much more was written about her. On her being the daughter of Indonesia’s founding father and first President of Indonesia Sukarno. President Sukarno significant role on the establishment of NAM (Non Alignment Movement) known in Bahasa Indonesia as Gerakan Non-Blok. And Megawati as the symbol of an oppressed figure during Suharto 32-year tyrannical rule. And Encouragement to the Indian government to enhance the bilateral cooperation between two countries, etc.
Non of those adjectives ascribed to the current president SBY. I found no op-ed articles specifically written about Indonesia or about the incumbent president. Ironically, the coming of former Singaporean PM got even more coverage.
What’s wrong? I tried to find out by trying to talk about it with a diplomat who headed the committee for the president visit. I found no answer. So, I try to figure it out myself. At least, there’re two possibilites in my mind why this happened:
(1) SBY’s military background is one reason. India is a democratic country where from its independent up till now, military always position itself in the backstage and never ever any effort attempted to take part in any political policies of the country. On the contrary, Pakistan, as its rival and neighbor is always ruled for most part of its independent by military ruler the decision of whom distract the two country’s relation to the core. India doesnt like military ruler, so does its media; maybe even if the military personality elected by democratic means as in the case of President SBY.
(2) The lack of public relation on the part of our embassies might contribute to the Indian media cold treatment. I find there’re always two pages advertisement days before a head-of-state official visit posted by any embassy concerned in some major Indian media. I found none of those ads before President SBY visit. Is lack of money on the part of our embassy as the cause? Quite unlikely, as our embassy always busy to build or renovate the embassies building even if it’s just been renovated one year ago. Only those who once stayed abroad know what does it mean.
So, lesson learnt for any of us who want to make any head-of-state official visit succeed: make brouhaha ads in the media and be pro-active and smart diplomats to make your country counted respected in the world.