Indonesia's Wirajuda expects 'intense discussion' of Burma at ASEAN
Updated
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda has asked the Federal Government to reconsider its warnings to Australians considering travelling to his country. Dr Wirajuda is in Sydney for a high level conference aimed at improving the relationship between the two nations.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Hassan Wirajuda, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda
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WIRAJUDA: First, it's a more a matter of Australians to decide of course, but it has to be commensurate with the developments on the ground. First there has been no incidence of terrorism, terrorist bombings in Indonesia in the past three years and countries like the United States and Canada have lifted their travel warnings since last year and the fact that there has been quite a flowing of tourists from Australia. It is also a fact that the Australian people themselves decide whether to travel to Indonesia by their own judgement. So it is in this context that we see it is timely the Australian Government to lift the travel advice.
LAM: As you say, there has been no attacks for over three years. How confident are you that Indonesian security has removed all potential threats?
WIRAJUDA: Well, the fact that I think Indonesia is one of the most successful country in combating terrorism. So the potential threat was often overblown. Our police have been very effective in their task to combat terrorism. In fact their capacity, much improved capacity has been the result of international cooperation, including the support of Australia.
LAM: But do you think the close relationship that Australia has with Indonesia, that this issue will not be an impediment?
WIRAJUDA: We are in close consultation, often we discuss this issue, whenever I meet with my counterparts and so it should not. At the same time the fact has been that last year the number of Australians visiting Indonesia has seen quite an increase.
LAM: The US Secretary of States, Mrs Hilary Clinton, of course, has just visited Jakarta. She had a very warm reception in Indonesia and indeed you yourself met her. It would seem that there is a new era in Indonesia-US relationships emerging. But already, there are concerns raised in Washington that the US should hold the Indonesian Government a little bit more accountable that it addresses seriously and in good faith human rights issues. Do you have any response to that?
WIRAJUDA: Perhaps that's what I read in the Australian newspaper this morning, an article written by an Australian. But in my bilateral meeting with Secretary, Hillary Clinton, not a single word was come from her on this issue and in fact there has been quite an understanding on the part of the United States. If you read the statement made by Secretary Hillary Clinton at the Asian Society in New York, she specifically mentions on the progress and her appreciations on the way Indonesia developed its relations with Timor Leste.
LAM: Well, Minister, let me move to the regional arena. As a founding member of ASEAN and indeed a young democracy, what can be done to help one of the newer ASEAN members, Burma, now known as Myanmar, to help it get out of its stagnation under the oppressive military regime?
WIRAJUDA: Well, Myanmar has been an issue of intense discussion within ASEAN. We have always discussed the issue of Myanmar in a very open and frank manner, certainly like many other countries, we members of ASEAN are also disappointed with the lack of progress in their process towards democracy and greater respect for human rights. But in other words, we continue to engage in Myanmar. The efforts by the international community to put pressure and even sanctions to Myanmar have proven that it doesn't work, it doesn't help improve Myanmar.
LAM: But it would seem also that ASEAN's form of engagement with Myanmar, that doesn't seem to work either. I mean the latest example Minister, is a flurry of Rohingya refugees who've landed in Aceh?
WIRAJUDA: Exactly, that's why it must be an engagement by the international community and on our part ASEAN will do our efforts. But don't forget, that it is a process. You should not see only the outcome today. I think there is a sign of moving here and as a process of course you cannot expect that you can change tomorrow. But we are all working and in fact I would say that the neighbouring countries of Myanmar, not only ASEAN, have also work together.
LAM: Will the issue of Burma and indeed Rohingya refugees, will that be raised at the Hua Hin meeting at the end of this month?
WIRAJUDA: I believe it will be.
LAM: Minister Hassan Wirajuda, thank you very much for speaking to Radio Australia this morning.
WIRAJUDA: Thank you very much.
