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RI-Oz ties hit new low following executions
The executions of two Australian drug convicts, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, have struck a further blow to diplomatic relations between Indonesia and its neighbor, with Australia reacting stridently to the deaths of its two citizens
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he executions of two Australian drug convicts, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, have struck a further blow to diplomatic relations between Indonesia and its neighbor, with Australia reacting stridently to the deaths of its two citizens.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said his government would recall its ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, 'for consultation' in response to the executions, which took place soon after midnight on Wednesday on Nusakambangan prison island near Cilacap, Central Java.
The two Bali Nine ringleaders were among eight drug convicts executed by firing squad on Wednesday, with the list also including citizens of Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia and Nigeria.
Abbott said that the withdrawal of its ambassador was not a move Australia had ever previously made in response to the execution of one of its citizens, but argued that the saga marked 'a dark moment' in the country's relationship with Indonesia.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop added fuel to expectations that her government would make drastic changes to bilateral ties, possibly at the expense of both countries.
'I want to stress that this is a very important relationship between Australia and Indonesia, but it has suffered as a result of what's been done over the last few hours,' she said during an Australian media briefing Wednesday morning local time.
Bishop did not rule out reducing Australia's foreign aid to Indonesia. Australia gives about A$600 million (US$480 million) a year to Indonesia and is the country's biggest donor after Japan.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Wednesday morning that she had not been directly notified that Australia would recall its ambassador in Jakarta and expressed hope that Indonesia's ties with its neighbor would remain strong in spite of recent events.
'The recalling of an ambassador is every country's right,' Retno told reporters on the sidelines of a National Development Planning Conference meeting in Central Jakarta.
'For Indonesia, Australia remains an important country and for Australia, Indonesia is also a very important partner.'
Retno said that the Indonesian government had yet to receive any notification of diplomatic shifts from Australia through official channels, with news coming only from foreign media channels.
'We received the information through the media, and the Foreign Ministry has yet to receive formal communication from the Australian Embassy regarding the action,' said Retno.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir also brushed off speculation of deteriorating relations, reiterating Indonesia's desire to 'maintain and improve good ties'.
Arrmanatha said that Indonesia had closely followed all the rules that applied and called on other countries to respect that.
The 11th hour temporary reprieve of Filipina death row inmate Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso demonstrated the government's prudence in handling legal issues, he claimed.
Veloso is expected to testify in a human trafficking case involving her employer Maria Kristina Sergio, who turned herself in to Philippines police shortly before the executions.
The government would continue, Arrmanatha went on, to do what it could to protect its citizens abroad, especially in the wake of the executions of the Australian duo.
He also warned Indonesian nationals in Australia to prepare for a backlash.
'We ask our citizens in Australia to be careful and obey the local customs and rules for the entire length of their stay there and reach out to our embassy or consulate general if anything happens,' he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla also downplayed the heightened tensions, saying that the withdrawal of the Australian ambassador was 'a normal occurrence in diplomatic relations'.
'We once recalled our ambassador there too; don't forget about that,' he said.
Jakarta recalled its ambassador from Canberra in 2013 following reports that the Australian government had spied on then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and other top government officials.
Abbott said such information-gathering practices were common among governments around the world and refused to apologize for the spying row.
Separately, the Brazilian government said in a statement that it was shocked by the news of the execution of its citizen Gularte, which marked the second execution of a Brazilian in Indonesia in three months, despite President Dilma Rousseff's personal appeals for clemency.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry said it was evaluating ties with Indonesia before deciding what action to take.
Indonesia said earlier it was reviewing the purchase of a second batch of Brazil-made Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft and an order for multiple rocket launch systems after Brazil refused to allow Indonesia's new ambassador to take part in a credentials ceremony following the execution of the first Brazilian citizen in January.
