RI settles financial payment for KL office

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said on Sunday that the Indonesian government had resolved the disturbances at the Malaysian consulate in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, which had been besieged by rallies for several days.

Alwi revealed that the government had remunerated the financial demands of protesters, who the alleged mistreatment of their family members working as maids in Malaysia.

"I received a report on Saturday night that the Pontianak city police chief has paid the claim requested by the protesters who had threatened the consulate," Alwi told The Jakarta Post.

He also claimed that an agreement had been signed in which the protesters pledged not to repeat their actions.

"We settled the problem with the family and paid them some Rp 59 million, then held a traditional ceremony to end the dispute," Alwi said.

"We hope that the family members of the Malaysian mission will return to Pontianak on Monday," Alwi remarked, while adding that the government always places high priority on the safety of staff of foreign missions in the country.

Malaysian consulate family members were evacuated on Thursday, following the advice of local authorities, after a series of rallies in front of the consulate office.

Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said earlier, the evacuation was a precautionary step taken in response to the latest developments in the border town that threatened the safety of the Malaysian consulate staff.

The consulate will remain open as closing the office would unnecessarily affect diplomatic relations.

Albar on Sunday warned that ties between the two countries would be strained if the safety of Malaysia's missions in Indonesia is compromised.

"Attacking our consulates in Pontianak does not in any way help resolve problems the Indonesians are facing here, but can cause a rift between the two countries," Albar said in Kuala Lumpur, as quoted by AFP.

"We hope Indonesia will take appropriate action and advise its people to use the law and existing channels," he continued.

It was also reported that the Malaysian consulate in Medan, North Sumatra, faced similar threats following legal action taken against Indonesian fishermen caught trespassing in Malaysian waters.

A Malaysian court has begun trying the 39 fishermen, who were arrested after a two-hour chase on Feb. 2 in which the Malaysian navy fired on their boat and killed one crewman.(dja)