Australia govt fears for image after RI embassy powder scare
Australia govt fears for image after RI embassy powder scare
Mike Corder, Associated Press/Sydney
Australia's government is worried its image in Asia will suffer
after an anthrax scare closed Indonesia's embassy in Canberra,
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Sunday.
The embassy was sealed off Wednesday and staff decontaminated
after a package containing white powder was opened.
Tests later confirmed the powder was harmless. The government
believes the apparent hoax was linked to a public backlash over a
20-year drug smuggling sentence handed to 27-year-old Schapelle
Corby last month by a court on the Indonesian island of Bali.
"We've obviously been very concerned ... about the impact of
the reaction to the Schapelle Corby verdict and subsequent
events, including the powder sent to the Indonesian embassy, that
that could have on Australia's standing in Asia, and Australia's
relationship in Indonesia, that obviously is a big factor for
us," Downer told television's Nine Network.
"So we've had to work to ensure that that's kept under control
and I think on the whole we have managed to do that."
Australian diplomats have for years been trying to boost
relations with the country's neighbors and trading partners in
Asia. Canberra is hoping to be involved in a meeting later this
year in Malaysia that is expected to launch discussions aimed at
setting up an east Asian trading bloc.
On Saturday, about 30 members of the Indonesian group Caring
Committee of Nation Children unfurled large banners reading
"Corby, drug dealers must die" and "Narkoba (drugs) destroys our
young generation" outside the Australian Embassy in the capital,
Jakarta.
A statement from the group urged Indonesians to support
Corby's sentence, and to reject any Australian attempts at
intervention into Indonesia's political and legal affairs.
On Saturday, protest organizers stressed the case's possible
diplomatic fallout.
"We don't want to see the case of a single person like Corby
have to damage our bilateral relations," said rally organizer
Beathor Suryadi. "Australians should realize that. Otherwise, we
have to sever the diplomatic ties if needed."
Downer said he did not think the protest would have any effect
on the case of Corby, who is appealing her conviction and
sentence, claiming judges did not give enough weight to her
defense that baggage handlers planted 4.1 kilograms of marijuana
in her surfboard bag.
"It's an endeavor by some people, I don't know who they are,
to try to put a counter view to the view that's been expressed
very strongly in Australia," he said.
"But I wouldn't draw any conclusions from it one way or the
other, I don't think it will have any impact."