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Australia-Indonesia Security treaty 'ready'
by Repost from AAP, Democrats
Tuesday January 24, 2006 at 11:24 PM
A new security treaty about to be signed between Indonesia and Australia may implicate Australia in the violent suppression of independence movements in Aceh and West Papua and human rights abuses by the Indonesian military.
January 11, 2006
AUSTRALIA and Indonesia are poised to sign a landmark security treaty, according to Indonesian government sources.
The wide-ranging pact encompassed not only counter-terrorism, intelligence and military cooperation but social, humanitarian and joint political concerns.
At its core was a commitment from Australia not to intervene in Indonesia's internal affairs or undermine its territorial integrity.
The pact would also draw together Australia's existing counter-terrorism agreements with Indonesia and forge new partnerships to combat people-smuggling, illegal fishing and humanitarian assistance.
The agreement would pave the way for a new era of close relations between the two nations.
Australia had already exchanged drafts of the treaty with Indonesia and Prime Minister John Howard was likely to formally sign the treaty when he visits Jakarta in the next few months.
It was understood Foreign Minister Alexander Downer discussed the deal at length with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda in Jakarta last month.
A spokesman for Mr Downer said the talks were well advanced.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17789470%255E1702,00.html
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INDONESIAN SECURITY TREATY: HUMAN RIGHTS VITAL
January 12, 2006
The proposed security treaty between Australia and Indonesia must not stifle human rights discourse nor involve Australia in suppressing Indonesian independence movements, according to the Australian Democrats.
"In particular, terms paving the way for non-intervention in the event of human rights abuses by the Indonesian Government should not be included in any such agreement," Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
"Preventing terrorist attacks through military and intelligence co-operation may appear positive, but the ongoing disregard for human rights by the Indonesian military may seriously compromise such aims.
"Implicit in Australia's humanitarian obligation to assist the people of Indonesia, is the obligation to assist them against human rights abuses as it did in the former East Timor.
"The possibility that Australia could also become linked, through co-operation arising from this treaty, to violent suppression of independence movements in provinces such as West Papua and Aceh is of grave concern.
"This agreement must be closely inspected for obligations on Australia that may give Indonesia carte blanche to commit violence against those within its borders while our government stands idly by," Senator Stott Despoja said.
Source: http://www.democrats.org.au/news/?press_id=4958
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