VP urges diplomatic solution to raid on Indonesians
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.