Singapore Embassy responds

Singapore Embassy responds

I refer to the article Extradition talks and Singapore's
lectures by Abdillah Toha published in The Jakarta Post on March
1.

It is puzzling how Abdillah Toha came to the conclusion that
the recently held negotiations between Singapore and Indonesian
officials on the extradition treaty issue " did not yield much".
Both the Indonesian and Singapore governments are pleased with
the progress of the extradition treaty negotiations.

At a joint press conference in Singapore on Feb. 15 during the
state visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to conclude an
extradition treaty with Indonesia expeditiously.

More recently, Indonesia's foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda
was quoted by the Indonesian media on Feb. 22 as stating that the
meetings on the extradition treaty to date have "gone on
smoothly" and that "both sides have shown commitment to solving
the issue".

Abdillah's lecture that Singapore is dragging its feet on the
extradition treaty because it has vested economic interests in
protecting so-called "corruptors" is baseless and shows a lack of
understanding of the issues. There are many complexities involved
in negotiating an extradition treaty between Singapore and
Indonesia. For example, a detailed list of extraditable crimes
would have to be agreed upon, including terrorism related
offenses.

Extradition can be in either direction. President Susilo has
told the media that an extradition treaty could not be concluded
"overnight". President Susilo has also pointed out that some
countries have taken as long as eight years to conclude
extradition treaties with Indonesia.

Abdillah is wrong to think that an extradition treaty is the
only legal recourse available to the Indonesian government. Even
without such a treaty, Indonesia has recourse through the
Singapore legal system. In the 1990s, the Indonesian government
successfully undertook civil legal action through the Singapore
courts in the Pertamina-Tahir case.

Singapore and Indonesia have also signed on to the ASEAN
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which provides another avenue. If
Abdillah has evidence of "billions of dollars stolen from
Indonesia (which) are now deposited in Singapore banks", he
should produce it.

Singapore supports the effort by the Indonesian government to
eradicate corruption and hopes that an extradition treaty would
help. However, we are relieved to read Abdillah agreeing that the
"extradition treaty (alone) would not break the chain of
corruption activities."

ADRIAN CHUNG
First Secretary (Political)
Singapore Embassy
Jakarta