| Governor Sutiyoso accepts Australian apologizes |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Tuesday, 05 June 2007 | |
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Sutiyoso after the incident, cut short his visit, made at the invitation of the New South Wales government, after Australian police went to his Sydney hotel room and asked him to testify at an inquest related to the deaths of five Australian based journalists at Balibo in East Timor back in 1975. Sutiyoso, a former lieutenant-general of the Indonesian military, restated that while he had been in East Timor three times in 1975, he had never entered Balibo, where the five journalists were killed. According to official reports, Brian Peters, Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Tony Stewart and Malcolm Rennie were accidentally killed in crossfire between invading Indonesian soldiers and Timorese militia. Indonesia continues to maintain that position and considers the case closed but it is considered as a great tragedy in Australia. A recent inquest at an Australian court has heard evidence that they were executed by Indonesian soldiers and that there is enough evidence to prosecute two unnamed people for war crimes. Australian Police went to Sutiyoso's hotel on 29 May, with a request to attend the inquest, after the coroner hearing the case said that Sutiyoso had allegedly been part of "Team Susi", one of the Indonesian military units that advanced on Balibo the day the journalists were killed. Sutiyoso, the governor of Jakarta accused Australian police of rude and inappropriate behaviour, alleging they used a master key to enter into his hotel room and ask him to testify; the Police denied the claim. Indonesian government lodged a formal protest with Australia, requesting clarification and an apology soon after. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Indonesian president, was "surprised" at the incident and expected that Australia would clarify the matter. The NSW government right after instituted a formal inquiry into the incident. Ambassador Farmer, met with Sutiyoso on 31 May morning at Jakarta's city hall. "Personally he apologised about that incident to me and he will try to get an official statement from NSW today and he will bring it and give it to me," Sutiyoso said after the meeting. "I forgive him, he is an ambassador, he represents Australia in Indonesia and he, in front of me and some of my staff, conveyed his apology and was very shocked and disappointed with that incident. He also urged hundreds of protesters who demonstrated outside the Australian Embassy on 30 May not to overreact.” Governor Sutiyosolater reciprocated the nice talks and urged the protesters not to overreact and not to do counterproductive activities. Australia and Indonesia posses a deep rooted diplomatic ties though few black lopes do exist. Australian government does not want to hamper the relation as it has a lot of unsolved projects with Indonesia yet to be completed. The Australian ambassador said after the fruitful meeting with Sutiyoso, "I deeply value the governor's assurance to me that he remains committed to working with us to develop a relationship that benefits both Indonesia and Australia”. "the governor has made it clear to me that he was deeply offended by the incident at the hotel". He added, "I know that the premier of NSW is deeply disturbed by this incident, that's why the premier has asked the police commissioner in NSW to initiate a senior level inquiry into what happened”. Sutiyoso and Farmer shook hands for the cameras following their meeting. Further communication and talks between the premier of NSW and the governor Sutiyoso is expected to ease up the whole process . Share & Bookmark             |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 June 2007 ) |
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