Ironduke

Australia, Indonesia sign security pact

Indonesia is hoping a new security treaty with Australia will uphold the sovereignty of both countries, including restive areas such as Papua, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda says.

The treaty, due to be signed on Monday, was almost scuppered after Australia granted visas this year to 43 Papuan asylum seekers who claimed they were being persecuted.

Wirajuda told reporters the pact did not specifically say that Australia rejected Papuan independence, but that the issue was implicit in its wording.

"There is a provision in which Australia and Indonesia will not support any separatist movement directed against one side," he said.

"Certainly, its main principle will be applicable when we talk about separatism in Papua.

"A treaty has a long time span and it will bind any kind of government in Australia as well as in Indonesia."

Indonesia tore up a defence pact with its southern neighbour seven years ago after the Australian-led intervention in East Timor.

Both countries have spent two years negotiating this latest treaty, which also includes cooperation in anti-terrorism and nuclear issues.

The pact has been slammed by some Australian opposition politicians and non-governmental groups, who argue it could give a free hand to suppress groups seeking independence in Papua.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown described the pact as "undemocratic and repugnant".

John Dowd, the president of the International Commission of Jurists, said the treaty would allow for increased military cooperation at a time when Indonesian forces were being used against some people in Papua.

"The treaty should also include provisions for human rights monitors and foreign journalists to be allowed access," Dowd said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the new pact did not mean Australia will reject more Papuan asylum seekers, or that pro-Papuan independence groups in Australia would be banned.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=160092

-{SpoonmaN}-

I'm quite happy with it, its in no way in anyone's interest to be supporting separatist groups in Indonesia, all they would lead to is more failed states we'll have to look after, like it or not people are better off being part of the Republik in my opinion. Australia and Indonesia cant afford to be enemies with eachother, we need eachother too much, hopefully this will put an and to the trivial spats we have with eachother every now and then.

__________________
"I have this to say to the people of Australia: Kick me, I'm different."

Commando

Totally agree. A good relationship between Australia and Indonesia is of immense importantance for stability in the pacific. Although Australia should be pressing Indonesia to take harsher measures against terrorist groups and in particular Jemaih Islamiah.

-{SpoonmaN}-

Dunno JI might not be the problem anymore, since most of its membership is believed to be moderate, recently there's been talk of a schism in the organisation because the moderates are getting sick of all the trouble the militants are causing them. Gotta remember religious militancy isnt nearly as prevailent in SE Asia as it is in other places, as noted by the fact that Malay Muslims often drink and eat pork, they sort of adapted the religion to fit in with their own culture, rather than the other way around. Laskar Jihad is the more hardcore group that should worry ASEAN security bodies more, since they don't have such a conflict between moderate and miltant, they're pretty much deadset on the whole terrorism thing, although they're not an especially large or powerful organisation as far as I know. The way I see it, we should all sit back for a bit and see how this internal conflict within JI plays out, since we could stand to gain new allies and most importantly gain a better perspective on who is friend, foe and neutral.