Australian ambassador receive NGO members<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Five representatives of NGOs were received by
\nAustralian Ambassador Allan Taylor yesterday over the flag-
\nburning incidents, an embassy official said.<\/p>\n
Embassy spokesman John Milne told The Jakarta Post that the
\nambassador reiterated that the Australian government regretted
\nthe incidents and understood the sensitivities of Indonesians.
\nHowever, he said the Australian government would concentrate more
\non the \"strong relationship\" that has been constructed between
\nIndonesia and Australia.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rasyid Emilly, the group's leader said that they
\nhad expressed their views during the meeting with the Australian
\nambassador.<\/p>\n
Four of the five represented NGOs were the Lembaga
\nPemberdayaan Kecerdasan dan Ketrampilan Masyarakat, Pusat
\nInformasi Lingkungan Indonesia, Lembaga Bina Karya, and Lembaga
\nSwadaya Eksponen 66.<\/p>\n
The flag-burning incidents, according to him, were conducted
\nby a small group of Australians with the majority being laborers.<\/p>\n
\"Labor is very close to communism while Indonesia is an anti-
\ncommunist country,\" Rasyid said.<\/p>\n
The incidents also involved a group of Fretilin supporters in
\nAustralia, who are against the integration of East Timor into
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The two parties' interests met in the flag-burning
\nincidents,\" Rasyid said.<\/p>\n
The ambassador explained that the Australian government is now
\ntrying to pass a bill concerning the destruction of foreign
\nnation's tokens of identity, including flags, Rasyid said.(01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australian-ambassador-receive-ngo-members-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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