Respect our laws, Kalla tells Aussies<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Government officials have lined up to condemn the act of sending
\npotentially hazardous biological powder to the Indonesian Embassy
\nin Canberra, as the police brace for a possible retaliatory
\nprotest at the Australian Embassy here.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the incident, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said
\non Thursday that all countries needed to respect the judicial
\nprocess in Indonesia and the nation's efforts to uphold its laws.<\/p>\n
Foreign countries should not expect double standards for their
\ncitizens when the law was upheld in Indonesia, a newly democratic
\ncountry that was only beginning to fully enforce its laws, Kalla
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"Other countries complain if we don't strictly enforce the
\nlaw, but also complain when we do. Therefore, we need to look at
\nthis case in a fair way. Indonesia is moving toward a better
\n(legal system) with stiffer law enforcement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, Kalla stressed that the incident would not harm the
\nrelations between the two countries and noted Australian Prime
\nMinister John Howard had already apologized for the powder
\nthreat.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think it will disturb our relations. It was just a
\nminor incident that we regret. The government will not impose any
\ntravel warnings (on Australia) for Indonesians,\" he said.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono branded the
\nincident \"a ferocious act of terror\" and called for the
\nAustralian police to aggressively pursue the case.<\/p>\n
\"It's inhumane, and it proves that terror acts also take place
\nin Australia. They have to be objective and fair in handling the
\ncase and quickly identify the perpetrators,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Agung said the Australian government should investigate the
\nmotive behind the incident, which could damage the ties between
\nthe two neighbors.<\/p>\n
Legislator Dedy Djamaluddin, who sits on the House Commission
\nI on foreign affairs, said the powder incident showed the
\nAustralian government had failed to ensure adequate security for
\nforeign diplomats in the country.<\/p>\n
\"An apology is insufficient. What's important is a guarantee
\nthat this kind of thing won't recur,\" Dedy said.<\/p>\n
Djoko Susilo, also on the commission, urged the Indonesian
\ngovernment to withdraw Indonesian diplomats from Australia as
\nlong as threats to their safety remained and suggested the
\ngovernment issue a travel warning on Australia.<\/p>\n
Terror threats have prompted Australia and other Western
\ncountries to issue regular travel warnings to their citizens,
\nadvising them against visiting Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The powder package, which the Australian police have announced
\nis harmless, was posted to the Indonesian Ambassador to
\nAustralia, Imron Cotan, on Wednesday in what Prime Minister
\nHoward described as \"a reckless and evil act.\"<\/p>\n
It is assumed the incident is related to the high-profile
\ntrial of Australian beautician Schapelle Corby in Denpasar, who
\nwas sentenced to 20 years' jail for bringing in 4.1 kilograms of
\ncannabis into the country.<\/p>\n
Most Australians believe Corby is the innocent victim of drug-
\nsmuggling Australian baggage handlers and her conviction here has
\nsparked a backlash in Australia, with the Indonesian Embassy
\nreceiving threatening calls, while the Indonesian consulate in
\nPerth was mailed a package containing bullets. Some travel agents
\nin the country have threatened to boycott Bali as a holiday
\ndestination and other Australians have even called for the
\ntsunami aid money they sent to Indonesia to be returned.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander
\nDowner said the he welcomed the plan by the Indonesian National
\nPolice to send officers to assist the investigation into the
\ncase, AFP reported.<\/p>\n
\"We also discourage (Australians) from protesting, as there's
\nnothing to be gained from mounting protests against the
\nIndonesian courts or laws as they are duly constituted,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesia Embassy remained locked up with no sign of
\nactivity on Thursday, with police patrolling the street outside
\nand staff ordered to remain home after spending 12 hours
\nquarantined inside the building on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Jakarta Police geared up on Thursday for
\npossible retaliatory protests at Australian diplomatic missions
\nhere. A water cannon was deployed outside the Australian Embassy,
\nwhile reinforcements stood by on alert.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Ariyanto Budiharjo said
\nthe decision to provide additional security for the embassy was
\nan anticipatory move and did not involve a request from the
\nAustralian government.<\/p>",
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