Indonesia does not need Australia's advice: Diplomat

Indonesia does not need Australia's advice: Diplomat

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebuked the Australian
government on Friday, saying that Indonesia did not need a third
country's advice on whether the government should ask for help to
address terrorism.

"Indonesia can actually make up its own mind on how to further
cooperation with another country," ministry spokesman Marty
Natalegawa, told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview on
Friday.

Marty underlined that Indonesia was satisfied with its
cooperation with both Australia and the United States in the
fight against terrorism.

Agency France Presse reported from Sydney that Australia had
urged the United States to take a more active role in providing
financial support and training in antiterrorism efforts by
Southeast Asian nations, particularly Indonesia.

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into Australia-U.S.
security ties, the government strongly supported the U.S.
commitment to the Asia-Pacific, but said it wanted more back-up
in the region.

"The bilateral relationships the U.S. maintains with regional
states, including ourselves are central to regional stability in
the Asia Pacific," said the submission, posted this week on the
parliament website.

But it added that "in terms of the war on terror, Australia
remains particularly keen to see more U.S. engagement in
Southeast Asian region."

"Australia and the U.S. can cooperate in providing support to
regional agencies to combat terrorism."

"The very proximity of Australia to terrorist-threatened
nations in Southeast Asia means that a ready first-response
neighbor is on hand to help in crisis situations," the submission
said, citing help by the Australian army and police after the
Bali bombings which claimed 202 lives in October 2002.

"As the U.S. and Australia keep an unswerving eye on other
areas of concern in Asia ... and on the global threats of
terrorism and weapons proliferation that affect the Asia-Pacific
region, we can each draw comfort from knowing the other's
commitment to this region reinforces our own."

The experiences of Americans and Australians cooperating in
Afghanistan and training together in 37 major military exercises
over the past two years meant each had a good idea of the other's
capabilities and contributions when setting up coalitions.

"This confidence level in each other's abilities has also
allowed the U.S. to play a supporting or non-military role in
some recent regional conflicts, deferring to the Australians'
professionalism and keen understanding of the region," it added.

Defense minister Robert Hill told The Australian newspaper
that Canberra wanted to have Washington more heavily engaged in
supporting counterterrorism efforts in Indonesia.

"The U.S. is a force for stability, and in Indonesia, for
example, we would like to see them be even more active in what
they are doing," Hill said.