Viewpoints: Alatas, 1932-2008

Indonesia has lost a world-renowned statesman, the United States has lost a good friend, and USINDO has lost a staunch supporter and dear colleague. Ali Alatas passed away last Friday in Singapore following a heart attack at the age of 76.

Allene and I first met Alex (as we called him) and Jun in the fall of 1964. He was serving as press spokesman and then Director of Information and Culture in the Foreign Ministry at a difficult time when Indonesia's relations with many nations, including the United States, were strained. But even then his guiding principle was clear. He was committed to working for greater international understanding and a reduction in world tensions and economic disparities.

Alex and Jun were tremendously popular among all elements of the disparate diplomatic community in Jakarta in the 1960s. They entertained frequently and graciously, often mixing up guest lists to include diplomats with quite different views -- and sometimes diplomats who were not supposed to recognize each other's existence. I remember a boating party at which we found ourselves trapped on a small boat with a Cuban couple.

It was impossible not to talk and we found common interests. When I returned to Washington in 1968 as State Department Director for Indonesian Affairs, Alex was already there as Ambassador Koko Sudjatmoko's political counselor and once again he strongly supported moves to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

Alex carried this ability to build bridges and bring diverse views together onto the wide international stage as Indonesia's representative to the UN agencies in Geneva, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, and Foreign Minister for twelve years (1987-1999).

Many foreign leaders supported him for the position of UN Secretary General but the "stone in the shoe," as he put it, of East Timor made that final achievement impossible. This was regrettable, for he had worked long and hard but unsuccessfully within the Indonesian government for autonomy for East Timor and a better life for the people.

He played important roles in bringing peace to Cambodia in 1991, to the southern Philippines in 1996 and to easing tensions in Burma. In "retirement" he served as a UN Special Envoy, a member of the ASEAN Eminent Persons Group charged with charting new directions for the organization, and Chairman of President Yudhoyono's Presidential Advisory Council.

Some years ago I asked him if he would join former Secretary of State George Shultz as Honorary Chairman of the USINDO Board of Advisors. He readily agreed, for he had long felt that, while he did not always agree with U.S. policies, the two nations played important world roles and needed better understanding.