Most Australians want 'harder' line towards RI

Most Australians want 'harder' line towards RI

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Allan R.
Taylor said yesterday a majority of Australians want their
government to take a "harder" line towards Indonesia,
particularly in connection with the latter's human rights record.

Speaking at a discussion held by the Indonesian Executive
Circle, the ambassador added that the majority of Australians
also wanted even closer ties between their country and Indonesia.

Taylor said that, despite progress in various matters of
mutual concern, there are still complex and sensitive issues
which will require continued effort on the part of both
governments.

"One of the most important of these is the area of human
rights," he told an audience which included several senior
diplomats. Among those in attendance was Non-Aligned Movement
Ambassador at Large in Charge of Latin America and the Caribbean,
Hasnan Habib.

"It's a field in which we have developed a frank and
continuing dialog about a range of questions with the Indonesian
government, bilaterally and multilaterally," Taylor continued.

In that dialogue, he said, the Australian government seeks to
reinforce its support for universally-accepted norms in support
of fundamental human rights. These encompass civil, political,
economic and social rights, he added.

"Our approach is non-discriminatory and does not shy away from
criticism of Australia," he said. "The situation in the province
of East Timor remains an important part of that dialogue."

Taylor quoted Prime Minister Paul Keating, who commented
recently that "all the achievements of Indonesia, all of the
development of its economy, the reduction of the poverty level,
the spread of education -- all of it has been diminished by East
Timor."

"We are committed to working through human rights issues in
ways which we judge most likely to be effective," he said.

Hasnan Habib criticized Taylor's focus on the East Timor
question. He pointed out that there have been allegations of
human rights abuses in Aceh and other parts of Indonesia as well,
but that these have not drawn any strong reaction from Australia.

"Why the special attention to East Timor, unless in your sub-
conscious you still see Indonesia as a threat to Australia?,"
Hasnan asked.

Taylor acknowledged the extra sensitivity shown on the
question of East Timor, but said that Australia had been
consistent in its stance on alleged human rights abuses, whether
they occurred in Aceh or in any other part of the world.

Hasnan described the relationship between Australia and
Indonesia as lacking a solid foundation, even unfriendly.

Taylor disagreed. "I believe we're very friendly," Taylor
said, while adding that much still needs to be done to establish
even firmer relations.

"The potential of the Australia-Indonesia relationship is
clearly enormous," he said. Quoting Keating again, he said that
"no relationship Australia has offers greater potential, on the
social, the cultural or the economic front, than this one with
Indonesia."

"But we know this potential will not be realized without
effort. We cannot be and are not complacent," he said.

He also promised that Australia would seek "enhancement of
strategic cooperation between the two countries' defense forces,
at a level comfortable to us both."

"We will work on ways of strengthening people-to-people
contacts to promote further understanding between us and seek to
reduce gaps of ignorance and misunderstanding," he said. (swe)