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Australia should strengthen ties with Indonesia’s ‘worldliest-ever president’, experts say

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles signed the Defence Cooperation Agreement with Indonesian Defence Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto. Photo: Jay Cronan

Experts have advised Australian officials to strengthen their relationship with Indonesia’s ‘worldliest-ever president’, Prabowo Subianto.

Experts have advised Australian officials to strengthen their relationship with Indonesia’s ‘worldliest-ever president’, Prabowo Subianto.

Charles Darwin University has put forward the theory at the third “Understanding Indonesia: Indonesia and its relationship with its neighbours as a regional power” conference, to be held at the university’s Casuarina Campus on Thursday, 5 December.

University experts have recognised Indonesia’s new president as a personality unlike any leader the south-east Asian country has ever seen.

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Conference convenor and speaker Dr Nathan Franklin said as Indonesia enters a new era under President Prabowo Subianto, it is critical for Australia and north Australia to increase their understanding of the country and the directions it could be led.

“Indonesia has the worldliest president it’s ever had. He has the best English, best understanding of the West, is educated in the United States and is highly attuned to the West, and he’s the former son-in-law of dictator Suharto,” Dr Franklin said.

“Indonesia is the most visited destination for Australians, the language is widely learned in our schools. But a lot of people are oblivious to the 280 million people to the north of us, and it’s important to understand the political systems, bilateral relationships and diplomacy of our neighbour, particularly when they’re very different.

“Indonesia will have a significant international presence through Prabowo and Australia, in particular the north, needs to understand where Indonesia will go in the next five years.”

The conference is expected to highlight why Indonesia is the largest and most important country in south-east Asia and explore the country’s politics, history, security, religion, anthropology and more.

The conference will feature a variety of domestic and international speakers, including Professor Bridget Welsh from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, who will speak about Malaysia’s relationship with Indonesia; Nanyang Technological University’s Dr Alexander Arifianto, who will speak about foreign policy under President Subianto; and Professor Tirka Widanti from Universitas Ngurah Rai, who will speak about Bali’s strategic role.

Local speakers include Dr Franklin, who will discuss Australia and Indonesia’s relationship; Associate Professor Steven Farram, who will explore the history of the Northern Territory and Indonesia; and CDU PhD candidate Peter Lilly, who will discuss ideological and religious beliefs in Indonesia.

Officials speaking at the conference are Consul-General in Makassar, Todd Dias; His Excellency ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia, Dr Siswo Pramono; and federal member for Solomon, Luke Gosling.

The third Understanding Indonesia conference is on Thursday, 5 December. Charles Darwin University lecturer in Indonesian studies, Dr Nathan Franklin, is speaking.

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