ID :
85382
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 10:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/85382
The shortlink copeid
RI, AUSTRALIA NEED COOPERATION FRAMEWORK TO OVERCOME PEOPLE SMUGGLING
Jakarta, Oct 20 (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Australia need to have a cooperation framework to overcome people smuggling that have been rife in the two countries' waters lately, presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said.
"We know this problem will continue to happen..... what is needed is a framework for cooperation between Indonesia and Australia not an adhoc body set up every time a problem like this occurs," he said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the palace.
He said officials concerned from the two countries would meet in the near future such as from the immigration office, the navy, the police and others to create guidelines for use in case of a people smuggling case.
"The results of the meeting will be reported to the two countries' heads of government on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Singapore in November," he said.
Dino said there had not been any decision so far with regard to the kinds of assistance Indonesia would need to help overcome boat people stranded in the country's waters on their way to Australia.
So far, the two countries had used the Bali Process as a reference for settling such a problem, agreed on by countries in the region in 2003.
"It would follow the Bali Process because the problem is not the affairs of one country only," he said.
The issue of people smuggling had been discussed by the two countries over the past two years.
Dino said all sides had agreed that people smuggling was not the affair of one country alone or a bilateral affair but it was a regional affair so that cooperation between countries of origin, transit countries and destination countries was needed.
To that end, he said, a framework would be needed as a reference for settling the problem.
He said the problem was not a light one because it had to do with human lives and humanitarian aspects.
Prime Minister Rudd and his delegation came to Jakarta aboard a special plane Monday evening to attend the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono and they are scheduled to return home Tuesday evening.
Included in the delegation was Foreign Minister Stephen Smith who planned to visit West Sumatra which was hit by a strong quake recently to see directly the impact of the quake and inspect the participation of Australian humanitarian workers in helping the victims.
In the past week the Rudd administration had been involved in strong disputes with the opposition over the flow of thousands of people seeking for an asylum in Australia in the past year.
Among them were 255 Sri Lankans who were now held in Indonesia. To them PM Rudd appealed to take official channels through the UN office concerned because his government would not be moved by any tactics from them.
Regarding them however Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said their fate was not a problem of Australian but of Indonesia.
"Problems in Indonesia are handled by Indonesia," Gillard said. Every year Australia receives at least 13,500 refugees.***1***
"We know this problem will continue to happen..... what is needed is a framework for cooperation between Indonesia and Australia not an adhoc body set up every time a problem like this occurs," he said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the palace.
He said officials concerned from the two countries would meet in the near future such as from the immigration office, the navy, the police and others to create guidelines for use in case of a people smuggling case.
"The results of the meeting will be reported to the two countries' heads of government on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Singapore in November," he said.
Dino said there had not been any decision so far with regard to the kinds of assistance Indonesia would need to help overcome boat people stranded in the country's waters on their way to Australia.
So far, the two countries had used the Bali Process as a reference for settling such a problem, agreed on by countries in the region in 2003.
"It would follow the Bali Process because the problem is not the affairs of one country only," he said.
The issue of people smuggling had been discussed by the two countries over the past two years.
Dino said all sides had agreed that people smuggling was not the affair of one country alone or a bilateral affair but it was a regional affair so that cooperation between countries of origin, transit countries and destination countries was needed.
To that end, he said, a framework would be needed as a reference for settling the problem.
He said the problem was not a light one because it had to do with human lives and humanitarian aspects.
Prime Minister Rudd and his delegation came to Jakarta aboard a special plane Monday evening to attend the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono and they are scheduled to return home Tuesday evening.
Included in the delegation was Foreign Minister Stephen Smith who planned to visit West Sumatra which was hit by a strong quake recently to see directly the impact of the quake and inspect the participation of Australian humanitarian workers in helping the victims.
In the past week the Rudd administration had been involved in strong disputes with the opposition over the flow of thousands of people seeking for an asylum in Australia in the past year.
Among them were 255 Sri Lankans who were now held in Indonesia. To them PM Rudd appealed to take official channels through the UN office concerned because his government would not be moved by any tactics from them.
Regarding them however Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said their fate was not a problem of Australian but of Indonesia.
"Problems in Indonesia are handled by Indonesia," Gillard said. Every year Australia receives at least 13,500 refugees.***1***
