Govt to help Indonesia in Australia

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