VP urges diplomatic solution to raid on Indonesians

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz has called for a diplomatic solution with Australia regarding police raids on homes of Indonesians in the neighboring country.

"I believe our foreign ministry already expressed our country's objection (to the raids). Anytime we are concerned about the Australian government's actions, we should use diplomatic channels," Hamzah said on Thursday.

The Vice President played down tension between the two countries following the raids, saying the incident should not provoke emotional reactions from Indonesians.

"We cannot interfere with their (Australian) legal process as it is their right, so let the foreign ministry settle this," he remarked.

Hamzah was commenting on the recent raids on homes of Indonesian nationals in Australia as part of the nationwide crackdown on terrorist suspects, following the Bali bombing on Oct. 12.

Heavily armed Australian security officers raided the home of Jaya Basri in Perth on Wednesday morning. No arrest was made but some materials were taken.

Similar raids were conducted all over Australia in a hunt for members of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), an organization that has been included on the United Nations list of terrorist groups.

The Indonesian government expressed immediate concern at the raids and officially reminded Canberra through its embassy here that any action against its citizens should have been communicated to Indonesian representatives there.

Several organizations have joined the criticism, but the Australian government insists on continuing the raids as part of the investigation into the presence of JI in the country.

Canberra has repeatedly accused JI of masterminding the Bali bombing. It said the current raids were conducted to prevent further terrorist attacks against Australian interests.

The raids on Indonesian nationals could put bilateral ties between Jakarta and Canberra to the test, shortly after they improved after the Bali carnage, which claimed over 190 lives, mostly Australians.

"We hope that the Australian government can communicate and coordinate with us any legal action they take against our citizens to prevent unnecessary consequences in our bilateral relations," Hamzah said.

He suggested that the Indonesian foreign ministry seek further clarification over the crackdown, saying unexplained actions against Indonesians would only disrupt relations between the two neighbors.