Border disputes impede Indo - Aussie relations
Border disputes impede Indo - Aussie relations
JAKARTA (JP): Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki
Syahnakri admitted that various incidents occurring in the border
between Indonesia and East Timor have impeded efforts to restore
bilateral ties between Indonesia and Australia.
"The various problems that have emerged near the border shared
by Indonesia and East Timor have no doubt affected efforts to
restore Indonesia-Australia ties which were strained in the wake
of the popular consultation in Lorosae (East Timor)," he said in
Bali, on Saturday.
However, Kiki, whose command oversees that of Bali and East
Nusa Tenggara -- which shares a border with East Timor -- noted
that despite the various problems the Indonesian government and
military must continue to maintain good relations with Australia.
"Efforts must be made to address all problems in Indonesia-
Australia affairs so that things can return to their previous
state of equanimity," he said as quoted by Antara on the
sidelines of a ceremony inaugurating the Australian International
School in Kerobokan, Bali.
Also present during the event was Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.
Relations between Jakarta and Canberra have hit bottom
following the East Timor debacle.
While there have been signs of improvement in recent months,
it was again jarred by the discovery that an Australian soldier
assigned to the United Nations peacekeeping force in East Timor
had ben involved in border espionage activities.
The Indonesian government through the Foreign Ministry issued
on Wednesday a strong statement expressing "extreme concern" over
the incident and "deeply deplored the recurrence of espionage
activities involving Australian nationals".
The Foreign Ministry warned that such incidents only served to
rattle normalization of bilateral ties.
No big deals
But Kiki tried to tone down the incidents, particularly after
the head of the UN peacekeeping operations publicly apologized
and pledged to dispel the Australian soldier.
Kiki said that from a military aspect the various incidents
were not big problems which could impede efforts to restore
relations between the two countries in the future.
"That they have remained an obstacle in the efforts to restore
bilateral relations is merely the influence of political
relations between the two countries," he remarked.
He said apart from the espionage incident, everything was calm
and orderly along the East Timor border.
"Since the breaking up of the spy ring nothing else has
occurred in the border areas," he said.
Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri also expressed a
conciliatory tone, pointing out that Indonesian and Australia
have historically had good relations.
"Even if there are certain things now which have hurt the
relationship between the two countries, then as an amiable nation
we should focus on the friendly aspects which have been
established for years," she said.
Speaking on the prospect of a high-level Indonesian delegation
to Australia, Megawati said it was certainly possible if the
moment was right.
"Dispatching an Indonesian governmental delegation to
Australia to repair relations is a very real possibility. But we
have to wait for the right moment. We don't want such a visit to
fail in yielding any results" she added. (mds)