http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/australia-indonesia-sign-security-treaty/2006/11/14/1163266511359.html
Australia, Indonesia sign security treaty November 14, 2006 - 7:26AM Indonesia and Australia have signed a treaty aimed at smoothing ties through greater security cooperation, and underlining support for Jakarta's sovereignty over restive provinces. Indonesia tore up a defence pact with Canberra seven years ago when Australia led an international force into East Timor to restore order after the territory voted to break from Jakarta. The new security treaty , signed yesterday, was almost scuppered earlier this year when Canberra granted protection visas to 43 Papuan asylum-seekers who claimed they were being persecuted at home. Asked if Australia could still be considered by Jakarta as a staging post for Papuan separatists, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said: "With the signing of this framework on security cooperation agreement, I don't believe Australia would be a staging post for any separatists." Australian opposition politicians and non-government groups fear the pact, which requires both countries not to support separatists, will give Indonesia a free hand to suppress groups seeking Papuan independence, something Canberra has denied. The signing of the treaty, which also enhances anti-terrorism cooperation and joint naval border patrols, as well as formalising military exchanges and training, took place in a palm-fringed beach resort on the Indonesian island of Lombok. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he believed the treaty would be a "bedrock for our relationship for many years to come". He described as "completely absurd" suggestions it could result in Australia clamping down on freedom of speech. "People in Australia can hold what view they like about anything they like and of course that's true about Indonesia." BOMB ATTACKS DRIVE COOPERATION The agreement, which is being called the "Lombok Treaty" and still needs the approval of both parliaments, also opens the door to cooperation in civilian nuclear research and Australian sales of uranium to Indonesia. Downer said that for Australia to export uranium to Indonesia a new nuclear safeguard agreement that ensures it is only used for peaceful purposes would have to be reached first. Jurgen Haacke, an expert on security and politics in Southeast Asia at the London School of Economics, said the drawn-out negotiations reaching the new treaty indicated sensitivities on both sides. "I see it as an important development to the extent it is likely to highlight and reinforce existing security cooperation, while also serving to reassure Indonesians that Australia fully supports its neighbour's territorial integrity." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
