RI settles financial payment for KL office<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab
\nsaid on Sunday that the Indonesian government had resolved the
\ndisturbances at the Malaysian consulate in Pontianak, West
\nKalimantan, which had been besieged by rallies for several days.<\/p>\n
Alwi revealed that the government had remunerated the
\nfinancial demands of protesters, who the alleged mistreatment of
\ntheir family members working as maids in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"I received a report on Saturday night that the Pontianak city
\npolice chief has paid the claim requested by the protesters who
\nhad threatened the consulate,\" Alwi told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He also claimed that an agreement had been signed in which the
\nprotesters pledged not to repeat their actions.<\/p>\n
\"We settled the problem with the family and paid them some Rp
\n59 million, then held a traditional ceremony to end the dispute,\"
\nAlwi said.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the family members of the Malaysian mission will
\nreturn to Pontianak on Monday,\" Alwi remarked, while adding that
\nthe government always places high priority on the safety of staff
\nof foreign missions in the country.<\/p>\n
Malaysian consulate family members were evacuated on Thursday,
\nfollowing the advice of local authorities, after a series of
\nrallies in front of the consulate office.<\/p>\n
Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said earlier, the
\nevacuation was a precautionary step taken in response to the
\nlatest developments in the border town that threatened the safety
\nof the Malaysian consulate staff.<\/p>\n
The consulate will remain open as closing the office would
\nunnecessarily affect diplomatic relations.<\/p>\n
Albar on Sunday warned that ties between the two countries
\nwould be strained if the safety of Malaysia's missions in
\nIndonesia is compromised.<\/p>\n
\"Attacking our consulates in Pontianak does not in any way
\nhelp resolve problems the Indonesians are facing here, but can
\ncause a rift between the two countries,\" Albar said in Kuala
\nLumpur, as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
\"We hope Indonesia will take appropriate action and advise its
\npeople to use the law and existing channels,\" he continued.<\/p>\n
It was also reported that the Malaysian consulate in Medan,
\nNorth Sumatra, faced similar threats following legal action taken
\nagainst Indonesian fishermen caught trespassing in Malaysian
\nwaters.<\/p>\n
A Malaysian court has begun trying the 39 fishermen, who were
\narrested after a two-hour chase on Feb. 2 in which the Malaysian
\nnavy fired on their boat and killed one crewman.(dja)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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