Obama's victory was also cheered in Indonesia, where he spent four years as a boy. The Monitor's Correspondent Sara Schonhardt reports that Indonesians have had a good few years, which may also be attributing to warm feelings:
Indonesians pleased with their country's consistent economic growth of more than 6 percent, rising wages, and rapidly expanding middle class said they hoped Obama would boost the global economy and further improve relations between the two countries with another term in office.
“I believe there will be a greater attention toward Asia, including Indonesia, for the benefit of the American economy,” says Aleksius Jemadu, the dean of International Relations at Pelita Harapan University.
Indeed, analysts say Obama has helped put Indonesia on the global radar and has taken a softer approach to bilateral relations than he predecessor.
“[President] Bush only saw us as a frontline in the war on terror,” says Philips Vermonte, a lead analyst at theCentre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta. With concerns about how the US president will influence peace negotiations in the Middle East, he added, “Indonesians are more comfortable with an Obama presidency.”
Nardi, a sales and marketing manager at an American-style rib restaurant in Jakarta who only goes by one name, agrees. “We need someone to lead the world, to maintain peace. Since Obama has been president we have seen a good impact for the whole country.”
Indonesian lawmakers were more mixed on the matter, as some politicians championed the US war on terrorism while others warned that the nation could be drawn into a US-China standoff, according to the Jakarta Globe.
Members of Indonesia's House of Representatives are hoping for closer ties. But there's skepticism about the prospect for change. “Indonesia is still not a top priority in the US’ foreign policy with the Far East,” National Mandate Party (PAN) deputy chairman Dradjad H. Wibowo told the Globe.
