Monday, January 9, 2017

1) Indonesia, Australia should tackle separatist flag raising incident carefully: Prof Juwana


2) PDI-P questions military training for FPI members

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1) Indonesia, Australia should tackle separatist flag raising incident carefully: Prof Juwana

Senin, 9 Januari 2017 19:49 WIB | 526 Views
Pewarta: Azizah Fitriyanti

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Australia should be careful in addressing the incident of trespassing and raising of a separatist flag at the Indonesian General Consulate in Melbourne, University of Indonesias international law expert stated.

"Both countries should be careful in addressing this incident, so it will not affect bilateral relations," University of Indonesias international law expert, Prof. Hikmahanto Juwana, remarked here on Monday.

The Indonesian government had earlier strongly criticized the criminal act carried out by members of the separatist Free Papua Movement who trespassed into the premises of the Indonesian Consulate General and raised the separatist movements flag on Friday (January 6).

Juwana noted that as two close neighboring countries, Indonesia and Australia have witnessed highs and lows in their bilateral relations, but separatism is a serious issue for Indonesia.

Moreover, Indonesia had earlier suspended military training and education cooperation with Australia following the insulting remarks and content published in textbooks in an Australian institution.

"It is hard not to relate the flag raising incident with the military cooperations suspension; the perpetrator seemed to have mocked Indonesia by raising the separatist flag," he said.

Juwana expressed optimism that the Australian government would follow up on the protest and request made by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry with regard to the incident and realize the importance of increasing security arrangements at Indonesias missions.

On the other hand, Indonesia should intensify its security measures for Australian missions to avoid a similar violation.

"Officials of both governments should also meet to demonstrate to the public that the two countries are committed to maintaining good relations," Juwana added.

By resolving tensions between high-ranking officials of Indonesia and Australia, it was expected that the issue would not escalate among the public that would then be more difficult to settle, Juwana noted.
(Uu.A060/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

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2) PDI-P questions military training for FPI members
Margareth S. Aritonang The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Mon, January 9, 2017 | 06:50 pm

Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle have taken a different stance to fellow lawmakers by supporting the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) decision to strip an officer off his position for giving Bela Negara (state defense) training to members of the Islam Defender Front (FPI).
PDI-P praised the TNI for a “quick response” by dismissing Lebak military commander Lt. Col. Czi Ubaidillah. Other lawmakers, such as Fadli Zon, had criticized the decision, saying training for FPI members was fine.
“[The firing] shows that the TNI, as an institution, has admitted that there was a flawed procedure in arranging the training [in Lebak],” PDI-P executive member Andreas Hugo Pareira said Monday.
Andreas, who is also a member of House of Representatives Commission I that oversees defense affairs, called on the military as well as the Defense Ministry to thoroughly review the defense training policy.
According to Andreas, the TNI has yet to provide a clear definition of threats, particularly from the outside, that Indonesia must deal with in training ordinary citizens to defend the state.
The state defense program has raised criticism from the public ever since it was initiated by the Defense Ministry last year, with people questioning the need to equip citizens with military skills. (evi)
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