U.

S-Indonesia Relations
Naldo Helmys

During President Yudhoyonos reign, Indonesia has significant important relations with United
States. Overall this relation is build by cooperative act. According to Secretary of State John
Kerry, Indonesia and United States are partners in several issues such as promoting democratic
values, peace and security, and better welfare and economic prosperity of peoples.1 This essay
will explain how Indonesia and United States relations in security, human right, economy and
trade, and also look at Indonesians position and role in ASEAN.
Security
Most famous issue in United States-Indonesia relations in security is antiterrorism,
especially to demolish Islamic militant Jemaah Islamiah. This would be important issue after the
2002 Bali bombings. United States firmly placed Indonesia as frontline states in war on terror.
Detachment 88 (Densus 88) was establish as soon as after the 2002 Bali bombings. United States
also run the Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program since 2003 which give technical support,
training and equipment to Detachment 88.2
The ATA pronounced as like Eighty-Eight where the number 88 get from here is one
of U.S program to trains civilian security and law enforcement personnel from friendly
governments in police procedure that deal with terrorism. Those training such as bomb detection,
crime scene investigation, airport and building security, maritime protections, and VIP
protection.3
But what Detachment 88 did in their raid operation also summon critic from people.
Detachment 88 are killing suspects unlawfully and targeting them because of their religious
belief and affiliation to secessionist movement. This is not in line with Indonesian law because
someone can be get punishment after jurisdiction process. In this case, United States use dual
standard where they play in defend of human right, right to life, and honor the law principle; but

th

John Kerry, Remarks With Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, February 17 2014,
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/02/221711.htm accessed on June 1st 2014.
2
Reuters, US-Funded Detachment 88, Elite of Indonesia Security http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/18/usindonesia-usa-security-idUSTRE62H13F20100318 accessed on May 29th, 2014.
3
U.S. Department, Antiterrorism Assistance Program, http://www.state.gov/m/ds/terrorism/c8583.htm accessed
on June 4th, 2014.

in other side they broke those principles by motive war on terror. Actually, Detachment 88 is not
popular in Indonesia and critical people who read in mass media have stigma in America.
Economy and Trade
As the only Southeast Asian member of the G20, Indonesia has role as regional economic
leader and this is interesting for United States to get opportunity. United States and Indonesia
have a fast-growing multibillion dollar trade and investment relationship. Both goods and service
trade grew in 2010 to 23.4 billion USD, an increase from $20 billion in 2009. In 2010, U.S
foreign direct investment stock in Indonesia reached $16.4 billion. Indonesian investments in the
United States are also growing, currently worth about $256 million.4
The Government of U.S contributes to help their companies realize the opportunities that
exist in Indonesia. Over 300 participants from 22 countries, including more than 100 U.S.
companies, participated in the Overseas Private Investment Corporations 2011 regional
investment conference in Jakarta. The National Export Initiative and U.S Government was
helping to identify and secure export opportunities for American businesses to sell their products
to Indonesia.5
United States and ASEAN countries have significant relations in trade and economy,
without exception Indonesia. Hillary Clinton said that therere four ways that want to get: first,
there must be lowering trade barrier; second, there must be strengthening the investment climate;
third, want to pursue commercial diplomacy; and fourth want to support entrepreneurs.
Interesting here that in Indonesia, United States want to strengthen the investment climate. Its
mean that Government of Indonesia was encouraged to allow American companies like
Caterpillar to build new plants.6
Human Right
Indonesia is the largest Sunni Muslim countries in the world. But Indonesia also home for
several religion and belief such as Shia, Ahmadia; Christian with all their various Catholic,
Protestant, Advent, Jehovah Witness; Buddhism; Shivas Hinduism in Bali; Confucianism; and
many traditional believe such as Kejawen in Java, Parmalim in North Sumatra, and many
traditional belief in Kalimantan and Papua. But theres violence in religion where some group
4

nd

Robert D. Hormats, Growing the U.S.-Indonesia Economic Relationship, July 22 , 2011 in Bali,
http://www.state.gov/e/rls/rmk/2011/169027.htm accessed on June 2nd,2014.
5
Ibid.
6
th
Hillary Clinton, Remarks at ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, November 18 , 2011 in Bali,
http://www.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2011/11/177349.htm accessed in June 3rd, 2014.

kill another group because of their religion. This case was happened last year in Sampang,
Madura between Sunni Muslim and Shia. This will be international note that right to choose
religion still low in Indonesia. United States also concern with this issue and is a part of human
rights problem in Indonesia. The Office of International Religious Freedom in the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor reputed as U.S. Governments tools to promote and
protect religious liberty around the world. It emphasized freedom of religion and protection of
members of religious minorities by: 1) Encouraging accountability for religious-based violence
and ensuring the protection of citizens and places of worship; 2) urging governments to adopt
legal protections for religious freedom and minorities and to amend or rescind unduly and
inappropriately restrictive laws; and 3) promoting societal respect for religious freedom and
diversity.7
But majority-minority term is depends on local region. In East Indonesia, Islam is
minority, such as in Poso. Indigenous people that adopt Christian as their religion faced on
visitor society such as Makassar, Minang, and Javanese who adopt Islam. Mosque often became
raid target to demolish and kill people who pray there. But, in Sampang, Shia minority got a bad
fall as religion violation victim. I suggest that the solution for this problem is there must be law
that guarantee specifically to choose their believes; people must back to what their religion
taught in scripture under peace and love framework.
Indonesians Role in ASEAN
United States look Indonesians position as leader of ASEAN as opportunity. In June
2010 when Indonesia was leader of ASEAN, U.S became the first non-ASEAN country to
establish Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta. Indonesia influence in ASEAN to maintain security and
stability make great power such as U.S look for opportunity in ASEAN. Total trade between the
U.S and ASEAN countries totaled more than 146 billion USD in 2009, and U.S investment stood
at over 3.3 billion USD. U.S wants ASEAN to be their strategic partner because China also want
it. Chinas influence in ASEAN also significant as U.S rival in trade. Indonesia leadership in
ASEAN is important for both U.S and China.

U.S. Department. International Religious Freedom Report for 2012,

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapper accessed on June 4, 2014.