[Nasional-e] RI threatens to take stronger action against Australia

[Ambon]

The Jakarta Post
Nov. 20, 2002

  RI threatens to take stronger action against Australia

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government has threatened to take stronger
action against Australia if it continues raiding the homes of Indonesian
nationals in violation of human rights, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda
said here Wednesday.

During a hearing with the House of Representatives' defense and foreign
affairs commission here, the minister did not specify the stronger action he
was referring to, but pointed out that Indonesia has direct leverage on
Australia's trade, Antara reported.

Hassan said 23 Indonesian nationals had been raided and interrogated by the
Australia Security and Intelligence Office (ASIO). Eleven of them were
permanent residents in Australia, while two had Australian citizenship.

The ASIO officers had forced the doors to enter the houses of the Indonesian
nationals and then allegedly interrogated them at gunpoint.

He admitted however that no Indonesian national has been expelled from
Australia on charges of involvement in Jemaah Islamiyah, which the UN has
listed as a terrorist organization.

The Indonesian minister issued a warning that Australia should stop raiding
and interrogating Indonesian nationals.

"In case a search or interrogation is necessary, the Indonesian national
should be accompanied by a lawyer or a staff member from the Indonesian
embassy. Otherwise, we will not stop at demanding clarification only," he
said.

During the hearing, the commission presented a videotape of Indonesians who
claimed to have been ill treated by Australian police and intelligence
agents.

A delegation of the commission recently visited Australia to meet the
Indonesians who were allegedly mistreated during investigations by the
Australian security authorities for possible links to terrorist networks.