http://www.smh.com.au/world/yudhoyono-quizzes-gillard-on-us-marines-20111119-1not3.html
Yudhoyono quizzes Gillard on US marines Daniel Flitton and Tom Allard, Nusa Dua, Indonesia November 20, 2011 INDONESIA'S President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono quizzed Julia Gillard and Barack Obama over the new American ''base'' in northern Australia but was assured that it posed no threat to Indonesia's territorial integrity. Dr Yudhoyono wrapped up the East Asia Summit last night and hailed the talks - which for the first time included the US and Russia along with regional giants China, India, and Japan - for tackling sensitive issues. He told reporters last night that a joint Australia-Indonesia plan presented to the gathering for improving disaster readiness in the region had called for rapid deployment of emergency workers to save lives. Advertisement: Story continues below Asked if this would include a role for the 2500 US marines to be eventually stationed near Darwin, he said he would welcome the idea. President Obama had raised the US presence in Australia during talks yesterday and said it would not unsettle the region, Dr Yudhoyono said. Prime Minister Gillard also sought out Dr Yudhoyono to discuss the role of the American troops ahead of a formal meeting today. ''I'm happy they explained it to me personally,'' the Indonesian leader said. ''On the establishment of that military base, it is not expected to change anything, it is not expected to distract or disturb neighbours … she [Ms Gillard] gave her guarantee.'' Indonesia has historically been highly sensitive to outside interference, and some Indonesian nationalists hold lingering suspicion about Australia after it led the peacekeeping mission to East Timor. Indonesian military commander Agus Suhartono had also raised concerns that the training arrangement could result in Indonesia being dragged into a dispute involving the South China Sea. Dr Yudhoyono said he had asked Mr Obama and Ms Gillard about their policy towards Indonesia in light of the new military arrangements and was happy to be told Australia and the US supported Indonesia's territorial integrity. Mr Obama also raised with Dr Yudhoyono the vexed issue of the restive region of West Papua, where there have been killings of independence activists in recent months and persistent allegations of human rights abuses by security forces. Dr Yudhoyono said he told the US leader that Indonesian forces were conducting legitimate operations against an ''insurgency'' and that Indonesian forces came under attack from separatists. ''If there are members who have violated the laws, gross violations of human rights, then they will go before the law,'' he said. ''I told him personally, there is no impunity, no immunity.'' The Indonesian leader added that Mr Obama told him ''explicitly'' that he respected Indonesia's sovereignty over the territory, which was incorporated into Indonesia after a highly contested referendum in 1969 when 1025 hand-picked West Papuan delegates unanimously endorsed integration. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/yudhoyono-quizzes-gillard-on-us-marines-20111119-1not3.html#ixzz1eIFDURj5 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
