Relations reset~I

Critics have noticed Prabowo's recent moves, including a recent expansion of the military command structure. This is a worrying lurch towards remilitarization in the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Critics who question that Prabowo is not abiding by civil supremacy believe he wants to restore the glory of the military, where various kinds of civic works can be done by the military as he feels those would be faster and more effective. Prabowo's reliance on the military is raising concerns about the undoing of democratic reforms that sprang up after Suharto was ousted

- RAJARAM PANDA

At this year’s 76th Republic Day celebration on 26 January, India invited the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto to be the Chief Guest. Indeed it was a strategic move on the part of the Narendra Modi government to engage with the Southeast Asian nation with the largest Muslim population in the world, and thereby deepen cooperation with the members of the Asean bloc. It transpired that energy, food security, defence and security ties emerged as the centrepieces of discussion.

Both sides are aware that their engagements - both bilaterally on issues of trade and maritime security and on the global stage through forums such as the G-20 and minilaterals such as the India-AustraliaIndonesia group - have brought the two countries into a closer, complementary and mutually beneficial partnership.

This two-part article shall address two separate issues in order to posit the India-Indonesia partnership in perspective. The first part dwells on Prabowo’s handling of the domestic situation as the success or failure of his measures shall impact his foreign policy and relations with Indonesia’s partner countries. The second part examines the outcome of Prabowo’s India visit and what it brought to the table for providing dividends to both sides.

The initial evaluation of Prabowo’s policy choices raises questions on his over-reliance on the military to sustain his democratic structure. By making his choice of officials in critical positions, the President has given people reason to worry if the political culture of past authoritarian leader Gen Suharto who lost power three decades ago is making a re-run. There are enough signs in peoples’ unease that see a flashback of Suharto in Prabowo turning to the once-all-powerful military to carry out a governing vision.