Relations with Australia

Relations with Australia

Good news but also not-so-good news has come from Australia.
Last week, on Oct. 10, Prime Minister Paul Keating made it clear
that Australia would not grant political asylum to people fleeing
the province of East Timor. On Sunday, however, there came news
that was not so pleasing to hear. Australia's Foreign Minister
Gareth Evans was reported to have said that there was a good
possibility that Australia would ask the Indonesian government to
reopen investigations on the death of five Australian journalists
20 years ago in East Timor.

Foreign Minister Gareth Evans made no clear-cut statement
because of the precarious position he is in. If he were to
clearly state that he would again take up the question of the
death of the five journalists with the Indonesian authorities,
that would indicate that he does not believe the explanations
that have already been given. On the other hand it seems that he
is aware of the strong emotions that are still alive among
Australians, the press in particular, over the incident.

He therefore prefers to remain cautious. He will take up the
issue once more only if new and stronger evidence is obtained.
Such a cautious stance is the correct attitude to take because
whatever one may say, the incident, which occurred 20 years ago
when East Timor was abandoned by the Portuguese in a state of
chaos, remains a sensitive matter.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta