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Kupa asked Friday that his name be withdrawn after Indonesian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."