Copulating dingoes and fornicating dogs

Cartoons are proving to be the latest way to trigger political rows. Hot on the heels of the Danish cartoons controversy, we now have another potential outburst of emotions, protests and diplomatic impasse as a result of another series of political cartoons.

The first one – the Danish cartoons on Prophet Muhammad – resulted in anger and protest in the Muslim world. It caused millions to hit the streets, showing their anger at Denmark for cartoons that ridiculed the prophet.

Politically, the row caused a strained relationship between some Arab states and the Danish government. Ambassadors were recalled and Danish diplomatic offices were burnt. Only now the row seemed to have abated.

And just when we thought we can move on, another series of political cartoons have triggered a diplomatic crisis between Indonesia and Australia. This appears to be a storm in a tea cup compared to the Danish controversy but it has the potential of blowing up and affecting the Asia Pacific region.

As it is the Indonesian government has recalled its ambassador from Canberra and its president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned that the matter could get worse.

What has happened is this. The Australian government has issued three-year visas to a group of 42 Papuans, including prominent separatists and their families, who arrived by boat in northern Australia in January.

On top of that, the Australians have repeatedly stated their support for Papuan separatism, something which the Indonesians are not even willing to consider.

To show their dissatisfaction over the Australian support for the Papuan, last week an Indonesian newspaper Rakyat Merdeka carried a front page cartoon portraying Prime Minister John Howard and his Foreign Minister Alexander Downer as copulating dingoes.

In that image, a shaking Howard is mounted on Downer with the Prime Minister saying: "I want Papua!! Alex! Try to make it happen."

In return, The Australian newspaper published a cartoon later in the week showing President Susilo as a tail-wagging dog mounting a startled-looking Papua dog and saying "don't take this the wrong way". The caption under the cartoon reads "no offence intended".

In response, Indonesia has recalled its ambassador to Canberra, postponed an agreement on jointly fighting bird flu, and angry Indonesians have protested outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

As it stands now, Indonesia is calling for a review of its dealing with Australia, especially on matters of illegal migration – obviously concerned with the ease in which independent-minded Papuans are getting Australian visas.

Historically the ties between these two countries have never been smooth. And we all know that the Indonesians can get millions to come out to the streets to protest, especially now that the government itself has indicated that it is very angry indeed.

Australia so far has been cool over the issue, maintaining that its relation with Indonesia is not affected by the cartoons. But will they remain the same with continuing Indonesian protest and anger?

backgrounder:
Read Australian media reports here and here and the Indonesian perspective here.