Indonesian President under pressure to act on corruption inquiry findi

Updated November 17, 2009 20:42:37

Much was made in Australia today of a decision by Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to cancel a forthcoming visit here. The Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, rejected media suggestions that the cancellation might be related to the standoff that ended today between Canberra and Jakarta, after the last 56 Sri Lankans aboard an Australian customs ship agreed to disembark in Indonesia. Mr Yudhoyono's spokesman, Dino Patti Djalal, said the president had scheduling difficulties.

However, Mr Yudhoyono may have wished to be at home when for today's handing down of findings by an independent investigation that he ordered into a stitch-up of the country's corruption commission. Observers say the President's own credibility is hinging on how he responds to the investigation's recommendations, which have just been released in Jakarta.

Presenter: Corinne Podger
Speaker: Gavin Fang, Indonesia Correspondent, Australia Network