Cartoon exhibition looks to mend broken RI-Australia relationship

Political cartoons in both Indonesian and Australian newspapers reveal a humorous slant on the countries' strained relations

The Jakarta Post
Monday, August 20, 2007

By Ary Hermawan

Neighboring countries often have starkly different social, political and cultural outlooks. It is not uncommon for neighboring nations to get involved in tiring, endless disputes over territory.

In short, the relationship between two nearby states is often underlined by suspicion.

This has certainly often been the case with Indonesia and Australia. The involvement of Australia in East Timor has been seen by many as a major turning point for Indonesia in dealing with its southern neighbor.

Since then, several incidents have colored the fragile relationship, at times putting it in serious trouble and at other times making it more solid.

The 2002 Bali bombings in which 88 Australians were killed and the 2004 tsunami that devastated Aceh brought the countries together.

But the trials of and death sentences imposed on Australian nationals for drug trafficking and the travel warnings slapped on Indonesia by Australia have strained the relationship.

"There have been ups and downs," Jango Pramartha, the president of the Indonesian Cartoonists Association, told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

"And I was thinking that we need to do something about it."

A cartoon exhibition participated in by 58 Australian and Indonesian cartoonists, as part of the 2007 Sanur Village Festival from Aug. 15-19, shows that despite the politics and the subtleties of foreign policy the people of the two nations have many things in common.

"We all delight in the beauty of nature, are carried aloft by the power of music and are moved by the drama of life. Not least of all, we love to share a good laugh," Rolf Heimann, the vice president of the Australian Cartoonists Association, said.

For decades, the Balinese and Australians have been tied by the beach. Although each have their own traditions and perceptions of the beach, the beauty of coastal areas transcends culture and beaches in Bali have become a melting pot.

While Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono once spoke of imbalances between Indonesia and Australia, the 2007 Indonesia-Australia Beach International Cartoon Exhibition in Sanur shows the two nations share the same delight in nature and the same concern over its degradation.

I.B. Martinaya, editor and senior cartoonist of the Bali Post daily, brilliantly depicted the meeting point between two cultures in his drawing of a Balinese and an Australian enjoying the beach.

The two lie next to each other on the sand, one shaded from the sun under a traditional Balinese umbrella, a jug of arak, a local drink made of palm sap, nearby, while the other lies under an ordinary beach umbrella with a beer bottle at hand.

"For Balinese, there is also sacredness in the beach," Jango said, underlining the contrast in perceptions between the two cultures.

Some cartoons are filled with environmental concern, depicting how development has damaged coastal areas, as seen in the work of Tyud Tahyudin of KOKKANG, a cartoonist group in Central Java.

Others offer social criticism, such as a senior cartoonist at Kompas daily, GM Sudarta, who depicts a corrupt official surfing on a tsunami that destroys people's houses.

As a means of communication, cartoons can be powerful. The history of cartoons, especially political cartoons, is filled with controversy. A cartoon published in a magazine or newspaper is capable not only of making people laugh, but also of sparking anger.

The Prophet Muhammad cartoon controversy is one recent example of cartoons in one country causing violent protests around the world.

The relationship between Australia and Indonesia was shaken when Rakyat Merdeka daily published a caricature of Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer as dingoes.

The Weekend Australian newspaper published a retaliatory cartoon depicting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as a dog, copulating with a Papuan. Both leaders said they were not offended by the cartoons, but the people of the two nations were very likely disturbed.

"I have drawn some political cartoons. But this time I want something different in this exhibition. Let's just laugh and have fun," Jango said.

Jango would be pleased to know most of the visitors to the exhibition said the cartoons were "realistic and funny."

"The future stretches before us, just like a beach. As we walk together, with the roaring breakers of political turmoil crashing on one side, dangerous at times, but always spectacular, and golden sand inviting us to rest and contemplate the sight," Rolf said.

Jango said cartoons could help revive the relationship between Indonesia and Australia when it was bothered by travel advisories or warnings.

"I would be honored if anybody regarded the cartoon exhibition as a means to mend a broken relationship," he said.

In a world sickened by political conflict and terror, a good laugh is indeed a welcome respite.

Date Posted: 8/20/2007