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Name: Antony Loewenstein
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Thursday, August 11, 2005

Our good neighbours

As the Indonesian armed forces (TNI) start to withdraw from Aceh after the recent supposed peace deal, questions remain as to the new destination for the TNI. Could it be West Papua, asks blogger Jakartass? The Australian Democrats have released a statement warning about the possibility of massacres and the likelihood of TNI forces causing racial and national tensions. Senator Natasha Stott Despoja says:

"The Australian Government must call upon Indonesia to immediately withdraw additional troops from West Papua. During a situation like this, the allegations regarding a pro-Jakarta lobby within the Australian Intelligence services and concern over intelligence warnings prior to the East Timor massacre are deeply disturbing. We must not allow another East Timor to develop on our doorstep. We have the advance warning, there will be no excuse if this is allowed to happen."

8 Comments:

Blogger Antony Loewenstein said...

Thanks for this, I've been watching the Munir trial with interest and notice SBS Dateline has a feature piece on it next Wednesday.
In the last decades, Australia has taken a very 'pragmatic' view of Indo. Let's not forget - as discussed in Clinton Fernandes book Reluctant Saviour - that Howard only went into Timor after massive public protests and pressure, not because he called about the Timorese people.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 11:02:00 am  
Blogger Antony Loewenstein said...

Kingsbury made some pointed comments recently about Australia's racism surrounding the Corby trial.
Now, can somebody explain why I seem to be getting spam commentators on this blog recently?

Thursday, August 11, 2005 2:54:00 pm  
Blogger Antony Loewenstein said...

Yep, will delete the spam (I think!) but it's odd and rather annoying.... Just when we thought spam was under control...

Thursday, August 11, 2005 3:22:00 pm  
Blogger Andjam said...

Some day, I hope that a quarter of a billion Indonesians might tell their government what it should not do, rather than a government of a country with less than one tenth the population.

But until then, I'm firmly in favour of telling Indonesia that massacring is bad.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 5:26:00 pm  
Blogger Jakartass said...

Vasco Pyjama says above that "significant international monitoring" of the Aceh peace deal is needed.

His prayers are answered here: http://www.thejakartapost.com/Archives/ArchivesDet2.asp?FileID=20050811.@02.

There will be 60, mainly from the EU I believe, following the signing of the Peace Pact next Monday and a further 140 will follow ~ assuming you believe everything you read in the papers, that is.

Oh, and ta for the link A.L.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 7:05:00 pm  
Blogger tempo dulu said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 8:12:00 pm  
Blogger tempo dulu said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 8:14:00 pm  
Blogger Antony Loewenstein said...

So, Indcoup, care to refer to "Coalition" troops in Iraq who torture and kill as "savages"?
I'm presuming your insights are tongue in cheek.
If not, mmm...

Thursday, August 11, 2005 8:30:00 pm  

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