Govt to help Indonesia in Australia

JAKARTA (JP): The government will provide legal aid for Indonesian citizens being questioned in Australia following anti- terror raids on suspicions of their involvement in terrorist activities, a statement issued by the foreign ministry said here on Monday.

"The department of foreign affairs announces that it is ready to provide legal assistance to affected Indonesian nationals," the press statement stated.

The ministry said it had set up hot lines in Canberra, Perth, Sydney, Darwin and Jakarta through which the public may submit information or ask about their relatives' welfare in Australia.

While respecting Australia's sovereign right to implement its own laws and regulations in its own country, the government of Indonesia has also reminded the Australian authorities of its international obligation relating to the right of consular protection enjoyed by foreign nationals on its soil.

Heavily-armed Australian federal agents raided homes of several Indonesian Muslims last week in a nationwide hunt for suspected members of terrorist groups following the Oct. 12 bombing on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, which killed more than 190 people, mostly Australian tourists. -- JP