RI halts cooperation with OZ, mulls more
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, November 21 2013
RI halts cooperation with OZ, mulls more
Ina Parlina and Bagus BT Saragih
Jakarta has upped the ante in the spying row with Canberra by officially suspending cooperation on preventive measures against boat people and mulling the suspension of free trade negotiations with its southern neighbor.
The retaliatory move came only hours after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the parliament in Canberra that he would do everything he “reasonably can” to repair relations with Jakarta.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday that Indonesia would freeze several bilateral projects, including operations to stem the influx of undocumented migrants from the Middle East, joint military exercises and the exchange of intelligence information, until the air had been cleared.
“People smuggling is a problem for Indonesia and Australia [and] we have a cooperation framework called the coordinated military operations [or] the coordinated sea patrols. I have asked for it to be suspended. We cannot continue such shared duties,” Yudhoyono said in his first press conference after the snooping revelations came to light.
The President previously consulted with Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, who had been recalled from Canberra in protest. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto and National Intelligence Agency (BIN) head Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman.
The suspensions were effective immediately.
Djoko — the senior official responsible for top-level coordination with Australian Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison regarding boat people — said the ongoing talks over the issue were also suspended “until we receive their explanation”.
Undocumented migrants arriving in Australia by boat after passing through Indonesian transit points are a hot political issue in Australia and newly elected Abbott promised his constituents he would stop the boats by forging cooperation with Jakarta.
Yudhoyono is set to send an official letter to Abbott on Wednesday night to ask for formal clarification.
“I know Indonesians are upset and angry over what Australia has done to our country. However, in terms of bilateral relations and in dealing with certain situations, we must not be emotional and must act rationally, because our move will determine the future friendship between Indonesia and Australia,” Yudhoyono said.
He added that he could not understand why Australia, which is among Indonesia’s largest sources of foreign aid, spied on Indonesia. “It is not the era of the Cold War where spying was common; Indonesia and Australia are not enemies,” he said.
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Moeldoko said he would recall TNI personnel and six F16 aircraft from Australia following the President’s order to suspend military cooperation with Australia. Joint military training in Lembang, West Java, would also be suspended.
Separately, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said Indonesia might suspend talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with Australia.
“We must guarantee that we are comfortable in our communications [with Australia],” he said on the sidelines of the Indonesia-Netherlands Business Forum in Jakarta.
However, Gita said that in the short term, Indonesia would not halt cattle imports from Australia as the government was concerned about supplies in the domestic market.
Indonesian officials were evasive when asked whether BIN had tapped Australian communications during the 1999 East Timor crisis when former chief Gen. Hendropriyono was at the reins.
Marciano refused to comment on the allegation 14 years ago, saying he was “not in a position to explain Indonesia’s intelligence operations against other countries”.
BIN’s deputy for communications and information, Bambang Wiyono, who said he was aware about the news reports, also declined to comment.
Linda Yulisman also contributed to this story
