PM seeks Buddha's blessing
Daily Telegraph
09feb02
IF BUDDHA'S blessing rings true, John Howard could be Prime Minister until 2010.
At the ancient shrine of Borobudur yesterday, 42km northwest of Yogyakarta, Mr Howard twice reached through the stonework to touch the heel of the statue of the lucky Buddha, hidden inside, who in return grants a wish.
"Two more terms," quipped Mr Howard when queried on what he had wished for.
His wife, Janette, also reached into the stone "stupa" to touch the Buddha, with Mr Howard standing by to help her if she slipped and fell.
Looking tired after three hectic days in Indonesia, Mr Howard visited Borobudur as well as the cultural and revolutionary capital of Yogyakarta in an effort to dispel feelings in Indonesia that Australia's interests in this country were purely economic.
Mr Howard, on his fifth, and possibly last visit to Indonesia, was keen to broaden his previously narrow approach to the nation in a sign Australia was serious about re-establishing ties.
Nonetheless, Mr Howard concluded the controversial three-day trip with a warning people should not to place too much emphasis on the relationship.
"The mistake that has been made in the past, in relation to Indonesia, is that people have elevated expectations out of the relationship and these have always been doomed to disappointment," he said.
"That was the error of earlier approaches.
"This is ... a very important relationship but it's not the overwhelming single relationship that Australia has around the world."
Mr Howard said East Timor was the main cause of recent animosity between the countries. He said Australia did not resile from its role there but it was now time to move on.
He acknowledged the controversy caused by being snubbed by Indonesian parliamentary speaker Amien Rais, but said it was "static".
"That's just domestic politics. I'm quite untroubled by that."