Indonesia recalls Australia envoy :: Namibia Internet Gateway cc ::

Articles: Indonesia recalls Australia envoy

Posted by admin on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 08:06 AM

Indonesia has recalled its ambassador to Australia after Canberra granted temporary visas to 42 Papuans from the Indonesian province of Papua.

Jakarta had strongly criticised the decision by Australia to grant the visas, saying it "regretted" the move. In a statement, it said the decision was counter to the spirit of co-operation between the two countries. Australia has sought to defuse the row, saying it did not indicate support for Papuan separatist aspirations. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesia had formally protested and the ambassador was being recalled to Jakarta for consultations. Forty-two Papuans, who arrived in Australia saying they were fleeing abuses by Indonesia's military, were granted the temporary protection visas. Jakarta said they had nothing to fear and had warned that granting asylum could strain its relations with Australia. The Papuans arrived in Australia by boat in January and were detained at a holding centre on Christmas Island. A decision is still to be made on a 43rd asylum seeker. Papuan insurgency

The decision is counter-productive and does not take into account the sensitivities of the Indonesian people regarding this issue

Indonesian foreign ministry

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said the Papuans would now be transferred from the holding centre to Melbourne in southern Australia. Indonesia's foreign ministry released a statement criticising the move. "The government of Indonesia is surprised, disappointed and very much regrets this decision," it said. "The decision is counter-productive and does not take into account the sensitivities of the Indonesian people regarding this issue. "It is against the spirit of bilateral co-operation, especially in the field of stopping illegal immigration." Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer attempted to assuage Indonesia, saying the move did not imply any support for separatist aspirations in Papua. A low-level separatist insurgency has been going on for decades in Papua, where the Indonesian authorities are frequently accused of human rights abuses. The group of Papuans reportedly includes leading pro-independence activists from the province. Indonesia gained sovereignty over Papua - a former Dutch colony - in 1969.

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