Representative member Asks Australia To apologize For Spying

Jakarta, Nov 27 (Antara) - A member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Tantowi Yahya, has asked the Australian government to apologize for allegedly wiretapping the cellphone of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2009. "As a sovereign state, Australia should apologize to Indonesia and ensure that espionage will no longer be a problem in the future," said Tantowi here on Wednesday. According to Tantowi, re-establishing relations with Australia with the help of a proposed protocol and code of conduct cannot guarantee that Australia will not repeat its actions. "Australia should offer an apology to Indonesia for wiretapping several of our country`s top officials," he added. He pointed out that he believed the letter from President Yudhoyono sent to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott did not insist on an apology to Indonesia. Tantowi said President Yudhoyono should insist on an apology, which is what the Indonesian people wanted. "The response from PM Abbott does not indicate any apology. The Australian government has only regretted the spying incident, but has not apologized to Indonesia," Tantowi added. Tantowi noted that Indonesia should demand an apology from Australia. Previously, documents leaked by former employee of the US National Security Agency Edward Snowden revealed Australia had spied on President Yudhoyono for 15 days in 2009. In response to the revelations, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry had recalled Ambassador for Australia in Canberra Nadjib Riphat Kesoema for further consultations.