[Kabar-indonesia] Most Australians, Indonesians Cannot Name Leader of the Other Country: Poll

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

Australians, Indonesians Could Know Each Other Better - Poll

SYDNEY, Oct. 2 (AP) -- Most Australians and Indonesians cannot name the 
leader of the other country, but both agree the two countries should work to forge 
closer ties, according to a survey published Monday. 

The poll, published by the independent think-tank Lowy Institute for 
International Policy, asked more than 2,200 Australians and Indonesians to rate their 
knowledge and opinion of the other country. 

Of Australians, 63% could not name Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang 
Yudhoyono, while 73% of Indonesians could not remember the name of Australia's 
Prime Minister John Howard. 

Although 77% of Australians and 64% of Indonesians agreed with the statement 
that both countries should "work to develop a close relationship," the survey 
also uncovered differences in perceptions about the bilateral relationship. 

Respondents were asked to rate a series of statements on a scale of 1 to 10, 
where 1 means "strongly disagree" and 10 means "strongly agree." 

Asked whether Indonesia was a "dangerous source of Islamic terrorism," most 
Australians agreed, with an average response of 6.5. Most Indonesians 
disagreed, with an average response of 3.8. 

On the question of whether Australia "is right to worry about Indonesia as a 
military threat," most Australian respondents agreed, with an average response 
of 6.2. Indonesians were less certain, however, with an average response of 
5. 

"While there is a degree of recognition that we need to work together, there 
is a degree of mistrust, suspicion on both sides," said Ivan Cook, the author 
of the study. 

The institute's executive director, Allan Gyngell, said the survey indicated 
"high levels of ignorance and suspicion" between the two countries. 

The poll of 1,007 Australians and 1,200 Indonesians was conducted between 
June 22 and July 6, by random telephone sample in Australia and face-to-face 
interviews in Indonesia. 

It had a margin of error of 3.1% in Australia and 2.8% in Indonesia. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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