Jakarta ready for clash over border PUBLISHED: 24 JAN 2014 00:10:18 | Financial Review Indonesia is using warships and air force radar to monitor border violations by Australia as the relationship between the countries deteriorates as a result of the Abbott government’s asylum seeker tow-back policy. An assertion by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday that Australia’s right to stop asylum-seeker boats as a “matter of sovereignty” seems to have further antagonised Jakarta. The Jakarta Post reported on Thursday the Indonesian government had told Australia the policy could lead to violations of Indonesia’s sovereignty and that it had increased security on its borders to prevent incursions. It reported military officials had said a number of Indonesian Navy warships have been deployed and four Air Force defence radars programmed to closely monitor the southern border. A Defence Ministry official warned the tow-back policy may soon ignite conflict. “Now that we have three frigates on the border, a clash could be imminent, as our Navy will prevent the towing-back,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We are watching four radars, in Timika, Merauke [in Papua], Saumlaki [Maluku] and Buraen [East Nusa Tenggara], which all face Australia,” Air Force chief spokesman Air Commodore Hadi Tjahjanto said. “If we notice any border violations, our air base in Makassar will be ready. Australia is reachable from there.” The Abbott government faces more scrutiny at home over admissions last week the Australian Navy made several incursions into Indonesian territorial waters, with the Greens moving for a Senate inquiry into the affair. Indonesian Navy chief spokesman Commodore Untung Suropati confirmed that a number of warships had moved towards the Australian border. He said these included frigates, fast torpedo craft, fast missile craft and corvettes as well as maritime patrol aircraft. He declined to reveal the precise number and location of the assets. “All the ships are on the move, patrolling the waters,” he said. Indonesia recalled its ambassador to Canberra two months ago after revelations that Australia had been tapping his phone and that of his inner circle, and has suspended co-operation with Australia over asylum seekers. But the revelation of border incursions by Australia has now resulted in a further deterioration in the relationship between Jakarta and Canberra. AUSTRALIA THE GREATEST THREAT A further dispute emerged over claims by asylum seekers that they were burned when they were forced to hold on to hot engine pipes when they were being towed back to Indonesia by the Australian Navy. Australia has flatly denied the claims and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has offered co-operation with the Indonesian police inquiry into the allegations if it means they can be quickly ruled out. ‘‘I cannot imagine for a moment that the professional people that we have in our forces would have behaved in that fashion,’’ she told reporters in Washington overnight on Wednesday. ‘‘But of course, if there is any co-operation we can extend to ensure that these allegations are scotched, then we’d be prepared to do it.’’ Former Labor foreign minister Bob Carr also rejected allegations that Defence personnel burned the hands of asylum seekers. The Jakarta Post earlier reported Indonesian House of Representatives defence, intelligence and foreign affairs committee member Susaningtyas Handayani Kertopati saying the Indonesian military should strengthen its “outward-looking” approach amid signs of escalating threats. “The greatest threat will obviously be from Australia,” she said. The Australian Greens will move for a Senate inquiry into the breaches of Indonesian territorial waters. “This is a very serious issue and it requires a rigorous, independent inquiry,” Greens immigration spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. “The government’s attempts to cover up the details of this breach with more of its business-as-usual secrecy simply isn’t good enough.” To date, the federal opposition has shied away from calling for an inquiry. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said: “What is really important here is maintaining a sensible relationship with Indonesia. “There’s no doubt in my mind that the Abbott government’s policies and addiction to secrecy are undermining this.”
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 00:46:44 +0000
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