http://www.smh.com.au/world/balibo-inquiry-worries-indonesia-20090924-g4t2.html
Balibo inquiry worries Indonesia BRENDAN NICHOLSON FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT September 25, 2009 INDONESIA's ambassador has asked the Australian Federal Police to explain why they are investigating the killings of five Australian-based journalists at Balibo 34 years ago. Primo Alui Joelianto said he rang the new AFP Commissioner, Tony Negus, yesterday to discuss the investigation. ''I just wanted to seek clarification of why he took the decision to start the investigation,'' Mr Joelianto said. Mr Negus explained to him the investigation was based on information referred to the police by the NSW Coroner. ''It's the legal process,'' Mr Joelianto said. ''We can understand that.'' The ambassador said the Indonesian Government was concerned about the investigation. ''It cannot be beneficial for our relations,'' he said. Mr Joelianto said Indonesia would not send its citizens to Australia for trial. The men were killed a long time ago, he said, and Indonesia had considered the case closed. Mr Joelianto said the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, was right to say that while relations between his country and Indonesia were very strong the dangers to that relationship were complacency and surprises. ''I agree with him.'' Mr Joelianto stressed he was not trying to intervene in the case and said Indonesia respected the investigation as part of the legal process. After his conversation with Mr Negus, Mr Joelianto met the AFP's assistant commissioner for border and international Affairs, Kevin Zuccato. In September, Mr Smith said the Indonesian Government was ''somewhat surprised'' to hear the AFP was investigating the Balibo killings. In November 2007 the NSW Deputy Coroner, Dorelle Pinch, found the Balibo Five were executed by Indonesian forces to stop them revealing details of Indonesia's invasion. Two Indonesians named in the inquest were Yunus Yosfiah, who is now a retired general, and another soldier, Christoforus da Silva. Ms Pinch found there was strong circumstantial evidence the five were killed on orders by the head of Indonesian Special Forces, Major-General Benny Murdani, to Colonel Dading Kalbuadi, Special Forces Group Commander in Timor, and then to Captain Yunus. Murdani and Kalbuadi are dead. Indonesia claimed the five were killed in crossfire during the battle for the town. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
