Indonesian Embassy clarifies

Indonesian Embassy clarifies

From Kompas

With reference to a news story printed in Kompas on Nov. 9 headlined Govt ready to help Indonesian citizens", there is a sentence that needs to be corrected. The sentence reads: "As soon as this information was received, the news release said the Indonesian Embassy contacted the victim, who later said that the raid was conducted properly, without exaggeration."

This sentence, referring to a news release from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra dated Nov. 8, may give members of the community a different perception, particularly if it is connected with a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, which could be construed that it had condoned the raid.

If the press release is read carefully, a conclusion that might be drawn is that security raids conducted by ASIO and AFP in Melbourne were carried out properly without exaggeration, unlike those in Sydney and Perth.

This clarification is necessary to avoid the Indonesian community misperceiving the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, which is Indonesia's representative office in Australia. It is one of the embassy's functions and tasks to protect every Indonesian citizen staying in Australia.

TRINI G. SUALANG, Head of Information Section, Indonesian Embassy, Canberra, Australia