International Dialogues Foundation| Indonesia

European-Indonesian dialogue | Coalition in the Moluccas | Civil society in Papua

idf

Introduction

Indonesia
In 1998, when the monetary crisis appeared to have a serious impact on the Indonesian society, IDF took the initiative to promote consultations from civil society to civil society with Indonesia. These consultations started with a meeting in the Netherlands in May 1998. During this meeting it was decided that these consultations should be extended to the other countries of the European Union.
In February 1999 the conference "EU-Indonesia Dialogue", in cooperation with the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS), was organised in Brussels. Prominent politicians representing the major political currents in Indonesia participated in this conference, where the problems of the political and economic transition were discussed.
In May 2000 IDF organised the conference "The New Indonesia and the European Union: Perspectives for Cooperation", in The Hague. At this conference, which was sponsored by the European Union, the Dutch government and a number of non- governmental organisations, the following subjects were discussed:
Good Governance; Decentralisation; Economic and Financial Restructuring; Trade and Investment.
Among the speakers were the Indonesian ministers of Foreign Affairs, and for Sea Exploration and Fisheries, Mr. Alwi Shihab and Mr. Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and the Dutch ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs, Mr. Jozias van Aartsen and Mrs. Annemarie Jorritsma.

Coalitions for Peace in the Moluccas
On 19 and 20 April 2001 on the initiative of International Dialogues Foundation (IDF) a delegation of 20 muslims and christians from the Moluccas had a Round Table Meeting with members of the European Parliament in Brussels. The meeting took place in the building of the European Parliament. The Moluccan delegation consisted manely of representatives of the reconciliation movement Baku Bae. Further, also leading figures of the major religious groups of Indonesia, such as the Nahdlatul Ulama, the Indonesian Council of Churches and the Indonesian Bishop's Conference participated.
Following this conference in cooperation with the LOWM (National Consultative Body for Moluccans' Welfare) meetings were organised for the delegation in the Netherlands with church organisations like Churches in Action and Pax Christi, the business association INA, the Moluccan historical museum, members of the Second Chamber of Parliament and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Further, contacts were arranged with the media, which resulted in a number of interviews. Some of them can be found in this report.

Civil Society in Papua
At present IDF is working in consultation with organisations in Papua and the Netherlands on a project focusing on the strengthening of the Papuan civil society organisations in view of the Special Autonomy of Papua. This project is based on consultations on tripertite consultations between Papuans, other Indonesians and Europeans.