Respect our laws, Kalla tells Aussies

Respect our laws, Kalla tells Aussies

Rendi A. Witular and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Government officials have lined up to condemn the act of sending
potentially hazardous biological powder to the Indonesian Embassy
in Canberra, as the police brace for a possible retaliatory
protest at the Australian Embassy here.

Speaking about the incident, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said
on Thursday that all countries needed to respect the judicial
process in Indonesia and the nation's efforts to uphold its laws.

Foreign countries should not expect double standards for their
citizens when the law was upheld in Indonesia, a newly democratic
country that was only beginning to fully enforce its laws, Kalla
said.

"Other countries complain if we don't strictly enforce the
law, but also complain when we do. Therefore, we need to look at
this case in a fair way. Indonesia is moving toward a better
(legal system) with stiffer law enforcement," he said.

However, Kalla stressed that the incident would not harm the
relations between the two countries and noted Australian Prime
Minister John Howard had already apologized for the powder
threat.

"I don't think it will disturb our relations. It was just a
minor incident that we regret. The government will not impose any
travel warnings (on Australia) for Indonesians," he said.

House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono branded the
incident "a ferocious act of terror" and called for the
Australian police to aggressively pursue the case.

"It's inhumane, and it proves that terror acts also take place
in Australia. They have to be objective and fair in handling the
case and quickly identify the perpetrators," he said.

Agung said the Australian government should investigate the
motive behind the incident, which could damage the ties between
the two neighbors.

Legislator Dedy Djamaluddin, who sits on the House Commission
I on foreign affairs, said the powder incident showed the
Australian government had failed to ensure adequate security for
foreign diplomats in the country.

"An apology is insufficient. What's important is a guarantee
that this kind of thing won't recur," Dedy said.

Djoko Susilo, also on the commission, urged the Indonesian
government to withdraw Indonesian diplomats from Australia as
long as threats to their safety remained and suggested the
government issue a travel warning on Australia.

Terror threats have prompted Australia and other Western
countries to issue regular travel warnings to their citizens,
advising them against visiting Indonesia.

The powder package, which the Australian police have announced
is harmless, was posted to the Indonesian Ambassador to
Australia, Imron Cotan, on Wednesday in what Prime Minister
Howard described as "a reckless and evil act."

It is assumed the incident is related to the high-profile
trial of Australian beautician Schapelle Corby in Denpasar, who
was sentenced to 20 years' jail for bringing in 4.1 kilograms of
cannabis into the country.

Most Australians believe Corby is the innocent victim of drug-
smuggling Australian baggage handlers and her conviction here has
sparked a backlash in Australia, with the Indonesian Embassy
receiving threatening calls, while the Indonesian consulate in
Perth was mailed a package containing bullets. Some travel agents
in the country have threatened to boycott Bali as a holiday
destination and other Australians have even called for the
tsunami aid money they sent to Indonesia to be returned.

Meanwhile, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander
Downer said the he welcomed the plan by the Indonesian National
Police to send officers to assist the investigation into the
case, AFP reported.

"We also discourage (Australians) from protesting, as there's
nothing to be gained from mounting protests against the
Indonesian courts or laws as they are duly constituted," he said.

The Indonesia Embassy remained locked up with no sign of
activity on Thursday, with police patrolling the street outside
and staff ordered to remain home after spending 12 hours
quarantined inside the building on Wednesday.

Separately, the Jakarta Police geared up on Thursday for
possible retaliatory protests at Australian diplomatic missions
here. A water cannon was deployed outside the Australian Embassy,
while reinforcements stood by on alert.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Ariyanto Budiharjo said
the decision to provide additional security for the embassy was
an anticipatory move and did not involve a request from the
Australian government.