RI protests 'Rambo-style' raids

RI protests 'Rambo-style' raids

JAKARTA: Indonesia has protested against Australia's "Rambo- style" raids on Indonesian expatriates in its campaign against terrorism in the aftermath of the Bali bomb attack, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Thursday.

Hassan said Australia had every right to carry out security actions but the Indonesian government found such action "excessive."

The raids were carried out "in Rambo style," Hassan told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

Heavily-armed agents raided homes of Indonesians in Australia last week in a nationwide hunt for suspected members of terrorist groups following the October 12 bombing on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, which killed more than 190 people.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri this week urged Australia "not to go overboard" with the anti-terrorism campaign.

Hassan said he had conveyed Jakarta's concerns about the raids to his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer.

Jakarta has warned that the way Australia treats Indonesians suspected of links to terrorism could threaten cooperation in the fight against the crime. -- AFP