Indonesia Lauded for Warning Australia Over Boat People Issue

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia's firm stance, voiced by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, in warning Australia against handling the boat people issue recklessly was lauded on Wednesday by a political analyst. "Indonesia's warning that Australia, under the new administration led by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, should not interfere with Indonesia's sovereignty while handling the boat people issue is justified and is in accordance with the need to protect the sovereignty of the state corridor," international political analyst Teuku Rezasyah stated here on Wednesday. Rezasyah told Antara that Australia should also be reminded of its position as the chairman of the Bali Process, which both countries had agreed to use when handling human-smuggling issues. "The Indonesian stance is already aligned with the principles of preserving its national sovereignty. The two countries should look deeper at the root of the problem," Rezasyah remarked. Referring to Abbott's statements while he was campaigning, where he stated his intention to buy the boats of Indonesian fishermen and pay coastal residents to provide information on political asylum seekers, Rezasyah said such an issue could interfere with bilateral relations. "No country is willing to be treated in that manner," he stressed. He noted that Australia should discuss the matter with the Indonesian government and should reinforce each of the policies they had agreed to uphold during the Bali Process meeting with regard to the way in which boat people are handled. The Indonesian government through Foreign Affairs Minister Natalegawa clarified its stance when Natalegawa met his counterpart Julie Bishop the day before the opening of the 68th General Debate Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday. "We have reiterated our position, which holds that Indonesia cannot accept any Australian policy that would violate Indonesia's sovereignty in any way," he told reporters after attending a series of multilateral and bilateral meetings. "I think the message has been conveyed loud and clear and has been understood well," he added. (*)