Sir, I am surprised to find Indonesia still being unfairly measured using an old yardstick in your report (“Human rights fears over £5bn fighter jets sale to Indonesia”, Mar 10). As rightly stated in your article, Indonesia is now a democracy.
There is a great deal of improvement in the field of human rights in Indonesia. National mechanisms are in place to ensure its promotion and protection. Even now Indonesia is at the forefront championing human rights in the region as the Chair of the Association of the Southeast Asia Nations (Asean).
There must be a fresh and better perspective on Indonesia. As a robust democracy, Indonesia has obviously an important geo-political value. It can play a constructive role and contribute to a healthy balance of power in East Asia, in the era of greater security dynamism in that part of the world.
Herry Sudradjat
Minister Counsellor
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia