Australian Embassy claims no knowledge of intelligence unit

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Australia's intention to open a permanent intelligence office in Jakarta has given rise to confusion, with the country's embassy here admitting it had not been informed about the plan.

The embassy spokesman, Kirk Coningham, said the intelligence body, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), had not yet notified the embassy that it intended to establish a new unit here.

However, as ties between Australia and Indonesia got closer following the Bali carnage, intelligence cooperation between two countries would likely increase, he said.

Reports said that ASIO would open a permanent office in Jakarta as part of moves to step up regional counterterrorism efforts following the bomb attack in Bali.

The Bali incident killed nearly 200 people and injured hundreds of others, with over 90 of the victims being Australians.

According to the report, Australia had been planning to upgrade its presence in Indonesia since early this year, but only took action after the Oct. 12 bombing in Bali.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said that it would be impossible for any foreign country to open an independent intelligence office in Indonesia.

"So far, even the Australian government themselves cannot confirm the report and the Indonesian government has never been informed about such a possibility," Marty said.

He asserted that the only possibility was the assigning of an intelligence liaison officer as part of the diplomatic mission to enhance intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

"The measure would be possible as the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on terrorism in February," he told the Post.

Marty stressed that the liaison officer in the conduct of his duties would have to comply with the international rules governing diplomatic missions.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also said that the Indonesian government had never been informed of any such intention on the part of the Australian government.

"Even if the report is correct, then we would expect the Australian government to officially inform us," he told a press conference after a ministerial meeting on security affairs on Tuesday.