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Govt says RI not Australia's political arena
The government has refused to get involved in a deeper debate over the controversial plan by Australiaâs opposition to disburse millions of dollars to Indonesian fishermen to stem the flow of asylum seekers, saying that it would only benefit certain political groups
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he government has refused to get involved in a deeper debate over the controversial plan by Australia's opposition to disburse millions of dollars to Indonesian fishermen to stem the flow of asylum seekers, saying that it would only benefit certain political groups.
Presidential spokesman for foreign affairs Teuku Faizasyah said on Monday that the government would not respond the plan, which analysts say is an insult to Indonesia as a nation.
'Should we comment on statements delivered during the campaign period [in Australia]? Besides, what people say during campaigning will not necessarily be put into action,' Faizasyah said at the State Palace.
'If the plan is actually implemented, let's say, then we would have to comment. But I think we should not waste our energy on Australia's domestic matters, particularly during the current period,' he added.
Australia's opposition coalition recently unveiled its plan for more regional action to stop people smuggling, pledging A$420 million (US$379 million) for policy measures that include paying Indonesian villagers for information about smugglers and buying unseaworthy boats, according to Australian media.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott said that roughly $20 million would be allocated to so-called 'village watch' activities, according to ABC News. The coalition's immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, said the program aimed to reach up to 100 villages across Indonesia.
'We need to [...] offer bounty payments for information that lead to arrests and successful prosecutions, as well as the opportunity to [...] get to boats before the people smugglers do and to stop the boats from leaving Indonesia,' Morrison said. 'It's much better and much more sensible to spend a few thousand dollars in Indonesia than to spend $12 million processing the people who ultimately arrive [in Australia],' he added.
An international affairs expert from the University of Indonesia (UI), Hikmahanto Juwana, said the plan was 'humiliating' to Indonesia because it made the country's fishermen 'look like mercenaries who do dirty work'.
However, Faizasyah refused to entertain Hikmahanto's suggestion. 'Commenting on such a matter would affect the political interests of either the incumbent or the opposition [in Australia]. If we were to make a comment, it could politically benefit one of the candidates,' he said, suggesting that he would not have Indonesia appear as if it were taking sides in Australia's political wrangling.
'We should not let this country become an arena for their political fight,' Faizasyah said.
