Downer accepts blame for bungling Kupa

Downer accepts blame for bungling Kupa

SYDNEY (AFP): Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer accepted responsibility yesterday for the embarrassing withdrawal of Australia's nominated ambassador to Indonesia, Miles Kupa.

Kupa asked Friday that his name be withdrawn after Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas signaled Jakarta's concern over the nomination, citing Australian press reports that Kupa had criticized Indonesian president Soeharto and his family.

The criticism, of Soeharto's ruling style and of alleged corruption within his family, was reportedly contained in a supposedly confidential paper written in 1988, but leaked in 1992 and rehashed again here 10 days ago.

Speaking in Adelaide, Downer said he had been unaware of Kupa's alleged statements until they were published by the Sydney Morning Herald.

He blamed "an oversight" by foreign affairs department personnel in failing to bring the media report to his attention, adding: "I take responsibility for their oversight."

He also admitted the withdrawal was "a bit embarrassing" and said the selection process for ambassadorial candidates would be reviewed, but said it was a "minor issue" which had not harmed ties between Australia and Indonesia.

Former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans earlier Sunday blamed Prime Minister John Howard as well as Downer for bungling the appointment.

Evans said the controversy would not have arisen if Howard had accepted the Labor government's nominee for the post, Alan Gyngell, who was foreign policy adviser to the former prime minister, Paul Keating.

It was also self-evident, Evans said, that Downer had shown "very poor judgment" in his handling of the appointment and subsequent withdrawal.

The latest controversy followed a furor last year over the withdrawal by Indonesia of its preferred ambassador to Australia, General Herman Mantiri, amid outrage here over comments he made condoning the 1991 Dili massacre.

Speaking during a televised interview, Evans, who is now shadow treasurer, accused Howard of political vindictiveness toward senior public servants and other government appointees seen to have links with the former Labor government.

He said despite Howard's "rhetoric of inclusion", there was a constantly recurring petty political vindictiveness which the prime minister had shown in a number of sacking of prominent people and senior public servants.

Downer should have remembered the leaked paper and explored any risks before nominating Kupa, said Evans. "It's self-evident that the handling of this by Alexander Downer showed very poor judgment."

Evans described Kupa as "an excellent diplomat", but said that given the leak in 1992 and the Mantiri affair, it would obviously have been wiser to let "a bit more water under the bridge before he went back to Jakarta."