The Age, March 24, 2006
Jakarta rage over visas
INDONESIA has reacted angrily to Australia's decision to grant temporary visas to a
group of asylum seekers from the Indonesian province of West Papua, with the threat
of a diplomatic protest.
Jakarta had earlier appealed to Canberra to send the 43 asylum seekers back,
warning that to do otherwise could affect relations. But Australia has decided to grant
temporary protection visas to 42 of the 43 Papuans who landed at Cape York in
January.
The 36 adults and seven children have accused the Indonesian military of genocide in
their homeland, a former Dutch colony taken over by Indonesia in the 1960s after an
independence referendum widely dismissed as rigged.
Foreign Minister Alexander! Downer yesterday took the unusual step of personally
informing his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirajuda, of the decision.
Djoko Susilo, a member of Indonesia's powerful parliamentary foreign affairs
commission, said Australia's decision meant that it accepted the claims made by the
Papuans. "This is an unfriendly gesture by the Australian Government," he said.
©AAP
Copyright © 2006. The Age Company Ltd.
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