Flag-burning incident never happened: ABRI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday categorically
\ndenied that an Indonesian national flag was burnt during an anti-
\nIndonesian government demonstration in Melbourne on Monday, as
\nhas been reported by a local newspaper.<\/p>\n
The report upset many senior government officials deep enough
\nto prompt them to demand action and warn of deteriorating
\nrelations between the two countries.<\/p>\n
"Indonesian missions in Canberra, Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne
\nand Perth and all defense attaches posted in Australia stated
\nthat there was never an incident in which the Indonesian flag was
\nset afire," ABRI said in a statement last night.<\/p>\n
It said that none of the Australian papers had reported such
\nan incident, which would be unusual given their propensity to
\nreport anti-Indonesian government activities in great detail.<\/p>\n
There were demonstrations in Melbourne and Darwin on Monday to
\nprotest against Indonesia's participation in an Australian-
\nsponsored international military exercise, but none involving the
\nburning of an Indonesian flag, the statement said.<\/p>\n
Many senior government and military officials reacted strongly
\nto the rumor about the flag burning, stating that they were
\noffended by the incident.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs Soesilo Soedarman
\nwas still calling it "an act of provocation" yesterday afternoon,
\nwhile Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat insisted
\nIndonesia send a strong protest note to the Australian
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
"The report was likely to have been thought up by some
\nirresponsible people," the ABRI statement said. (rms\/emb\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/flag-burning-incident-never-happened-abri-1447893297",
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