RI-Australia relations: SBY, Abbott omit talk on minors

Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | World | Tue, October 16 2012, 11:13 AM

Paper Edition | Page: 12

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono did not discuss the fate of dozens of Indonesian children detained in Australia when he met with Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott in Jakarta on Monday.

“[The issue] was not specifically mentioned, because this issue has been continuously managed and communicated with Prime Minister Julia Gillard,” Marty said in a press conference, responding to a question from The Jakarta Post.

He said that Yudhoyono and Abbott had only discussed the people smuggling issue in general.

“There was a suggestion, on the part of Tony Abbott, that given Indonesia’s geography, there is the potential for the enhancement of capacity so that Indonesia will be able to address the obvious challenge in disrupting the flow of people smuggling. That is why there was recognition, in the meeting, of the need to strengthen the Bali Process framework,” Marty said.

Marty accompanied Yudhoyono in the meeting while Abbot was accompanied by the shadow foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop.

Abbott and his entourage have been in Indonesia since Thursday. With Gillard, he attended the 2002 Bali bombing memorial service in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday.

Marty added that Indonesia had always utilized any opportunities to convey concerns about the fate of young Indonesian boat crews currently in Australian detention.

“I think the development of talks about the detained Indonesian minors have been positively progressing, particularly after the latest meeting in Darwin,” he said.

Marty was referring to a Yudhoyono-Gillard meeting in the second Indonesia-Australia Annual Leader’s Meeting in Australia’s most-northern city, which is also the closest Australian city to Indonesia. On the sidelines of the Darwin meeting, Yudhoyono also met with Abbott.

After accompanying Abbott in the meeting, Bishop headed to Marty’s office to have a “bilateral” meeting with the minister.

Marty said he discussed important issues, including people smuggling when meeting with Bishop.

As of July, there were still 54 Indonesian children in Australian detention, 215 others being released.

The children were accused of helping asylum seekers sail to Australia. However, most of them worked as cooks or helpers on the vessels, without knowledge of the journeys’ purpose.

Indonesia expects the 1992 extradition agreement with Australia can be utilized in the case.

Between 2008 and May 2012, 193 Indonesian children have been jailed in Australia, according to Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry.

As many as 125 children were released without charge, while a further 62 were freed after undergoing judicial process in Australia. On May 23, Australia released six children after they had served their sentences.

In November 2011, Australia approved Indonesia’s request to place child and adult inmates separately.

When he met with Yudhoyono, Abbott did not delve into the details of the so-called “turning back asylum seeker boats” policy of his opposition coalition, according to Marty.

“No. [The talks did not discuss] that specific topic. But there was a good discussion on the problems or common challenges of people smuggling and how the issue must be addressed,” Marty told the press.