Government decides not to tackle Australia over raids<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has refused a request from the House of
\nRepresentatives to send a team to conduct further probes into
\npossible human rights abuses against Indonesians in Australia,
\nsaying the case was an internal affair of the neighboring
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on
\nFriday that most of the raids were against Indonesians that had
\nbecome Australian permanent residents, so it would be difficult
\nfor Jakarta to follow up the case.<\/p>\n
\"Almost 70 percent of the 23 Indonesians targeted in the raids
\nare no longer full Indonesian citizens. We would like to help but
\nit would be difficult,\" Hassan said at the State Palace after
\nmeeting President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
\"There are only two full Indonesian citizens who suffered from
\nthe raids. One was trying to claim back his computer disk as his
\nthesis was inside. And the other one is married to an Australian
\ncitizen, Jack Roche. So it's mostly a case of humanity and not a
\nlegal one,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the government would continue to provide
\nlegal help and monitor the condition of the 23 Indonesians, but
\nthat would be the maximum support the government could provide.<\/p>\n
For all Indonesian citizens abroad the government is able to
\nprovide legal assistance and possibly other kinds of aid. \"But in
\nthis case that is all we can do,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Australian security forces conducted heavy-handed raids
\nagainst suspected terrorists or members of the outlawed Jamaah
\nIslamiyah group in the wake of the Bali bombing, which killed
\nover 190 people, many of whom were Australians.<\/p>\n
Reports said that the raids affected 23 Indonesians living
\nthere. Some of these Indonesians told visiting Indonesian
\nlegislators that they were treated by Australian security forces
\nas criminals, held at gunpoint and handcuffed.<\/p>\n
Coming back from Australia, the legislators from the House of
\nRepresentatives' Commission I on defense and foreign affairs
\nsummoned Minister Hassan and demanded that the government request
\na through investigation by the Australian side or send its own
\nteam to Australia to help investigate allegations of human rights
\nviolations against Indonesians living there.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government officially launched a protest
\nagainst the mistreatment to Canberra, however underlined that
\nJakarta would not interfere in the legal process.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-decides-not-to-tackle-australia-over-raids-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}