Relations with Australia<\/p>\n
Good news but also not-so-good news has come from Australia.
\nLast week, on Oct. 10, Prime Minister Paul Keating made it clear
\nthat Australia would not grant political asylum to people fleeing
\nthe province of East Timor. On Sunday, however, there came news
\nthat was not so pleasing to hear. Australia's Foreign Minister
\nGareth Evans was reported to have said that there was a good
\npossibility that Australia would ask the Indonesian government to
\nreopen investigations on the death of five Australian journalists
\n20 years ago in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Gareth Evans made no clear-cut statement
\nbecause of the precarious position he is in. If he were to
\nclearly state that he would again take up the question of the
\ndeath of the five journalists with the Indonesian authorities,
\nthat would indicate that he does not believe the explanations
\nthat have already been given. On the other hand it seems that he
\nis aware of the strong emotions that are still alive among
\nAustralians, the press in particular, over the incident.<\/p>\n
He therefore prefers to remain cautious. He will take up the
\nissue once more only if new and stronger evidence is obtained.
\nSuch a cautious stance is the correct attitude to take because
\nwhatever one may say, the incident, which occurred 20 years ago
\nwhen East Timor was abandoned by the Portuguese in a state of
\nchaos, remains a sensitive matter.<\/p>\n
-- Suara Karya, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/relations-with-australia-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }