Indonesia, Australia to cooperate on legal affairs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Australia signed on Wednesday a
\nmemorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation to enhance
\nthe judicial systems in the two neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said
\nthe cooperation would cover a broad range of legal affairs,
\nincluding the administration of law and justice, human rights
\naffairs, excise and customs, banking and financial affairs,
\nintellectual property rights, immigration and conflict
\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
\"The cooperation is important because although Australia is
\nour closest neighbor, neither of us have ever signed an agreement
\nof cooperation in legal affairs before,\" Yusril was quoted by
\nAntara as saying after signing the MOU with Australia's Attorney
\nGeneral Daryl Williams in Canberra.<\/p>\n
\"The advantage of this cooperation is that Indonesia can learn
\nthe latest developments in legal affairs, exchange experience and
\nsend people for training, including in the area of human rights'
\ninvestigation for Indonesia's judges.\"<\/p>\n
The new cooperation was following up the results of the 4th
\nIndonesia and Australia Ministerial Meeting in Bali last year,
\nwhen the two countries agreed to establish a working group on
\nlegal affairs.<\/p>\n
Yusril said that he and Williams agreed to meet every year,
\nstarting from next year in Jakarta, to monitor the progress of
\nthe cooperation.<\/p>\n
The MOU was signed amid the worsening diplomatic relations
\nbetween the two countries following the secession of East Timor
\nfrom Indonesia last year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Williams said the memorandum marked a new phase in
\na series of cooperation agreements and legal services between the
\ntwo countries, which have intensified over the past decade.<\/p>\n
Williams expressed optimism that the cooperation will bear
\nfruit in spite of the fact that the two countries practice
\ndifferent legal systems.<\/p>\n
Australia has recently asked Indonesia to set up immigration
\nprocessing centers to help the island nation restrict the illegal
\nentry of foreigners, mostly from the Middle East, who often pass
\nthrough Indonesia.<\/p>\n
However, Yusril said on Wednesday, that the government had
\nturned down Australia's request.<\/p>\n
\"We will formally state this to the Australian government
\ntomorrow (Thursday). Indonesia refuses to serve as a buffer zone
\nfor illegal immigrants heading for Australia. The job will only
\nburden us,\" Yusril said.<\/p>\n
Yusril said he would extend the refusal during a meeting with
\nAustralian Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
\nPhilip Ruddock and Minister of Justice Amanda Vanstone.<\/p>\n
\"We have been working together in many fields dealing with
\nsmuggling and extradition. So, there is no need to open any
\nprocessing centers,\" Yusril said. (bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-australia-to-cooperate-on-legal-affairs-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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