RI-Australia Police Training Coop Continues

Jakarta, Nov 25 (Antara) - Cooperation for training between the Indonesian Police (POLRI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) continues even as cooperation in other areas has been suspended. "I have stopped cooperation for anti-human trafficking, but the police training program continues," said Indonesian Police Chief Sutarman here on Monday. Cooperation was terminated under the direction of the head of state following rising tensions in diplomatic relations between the two countries due to allegations that Australian intelligence had tapped the phones to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a number of senior Indonesian officials. In addition, cooperation for equipment procurement for anti-terror activities under Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) has also been suspended, as was cooperation for cybercrime tracking. The police will evaluate the equipment purchased to ensure the devices have not been tapped. "All the computer equipment could be tapped. We have to decide how to manage the equipment`s operations, because now, radio waves at any frequency can be tapped," he added. Earlier, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had ordered the suspension of three bilateral cooperation agreements between Indonesia and Australia, including the exchange of information and intelligence, joint military exercises and military operations with Australia and the prevention of human trafficking. The President will also evaluate other cooperation agreements with Australia. In addition, the President has requested that future cooperation with Australia conform to the Code of Conduct protocols.