The Sydney Morning Herald, January 11, 2005
Aid workers relying on Indonesian protection
By Cynthia Banham, Mark Metherell and Malcolm Brown
The Federal Opposition has raised concerns about the security of Australian troops
and aid workers in the tsunami-hit Aceh province, branding as "unusual" the decision
to allow the Indonesian Army to provide the only protection for Australia's unarmed
relief contingent.
The acting Labor leader, Chris Evans, voiced the concerns during a briefing on
Australia's tsunami relief effort from senior departmental officials in Canberra, and after
reports of skirmishes between the Indonesian Army (TNI) and separatists from the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Doctors from a civilian Australian medical team operating in Aceh provided medical
assistance to an Indonesian soldier suffering from gunshot wounds at the weekend.
The Prime Minister, John Howard, said yesterday "we will keep a very careful eye on"
the possibility of members of the Australian military or aid organisations getting
caught in the crossfire between the TNI and Aceh separatists.
"But thus far we believe that the security situation can be handled effectively and it's
not in any way impeding the delivery of aid," Mr Howard said, adding that Australian
troops were not engaging, and would not engage in, military operations in Indonesia.
The political troubles in Aceh were "an internal domestic matter for Indonesia", and
Australia was "not in the business of picking sides", he said.
Senator Evans said he raised the question of security arrangements for Australian
troops and aid workers at the Government briefing, and was surprised to learn
Australia was relying on the TNI for protection. Australian soldiers in Aceh are
unarmed.
"I'd have to say we still have concerns to make sure those Australians are still
properly protected," Senator Evans said. "The Government provided us with
reassurances, but ... the area has been unstable for many years now and it is a
serious issue."
The president of the Australian Medical Association, Bill Glasson, said he was
concerned Australian doctors and nurses in Aceh could get caught in crossfire.
Dr Glasson, a Reserve Army lieutenant-colonel in the medical corps, said doctors'
first responsibility was to treat patients no matter whose side they were on.
"But we have to be careful that we are not putting surgeons in a position where they
get caught in the crossfire."
A spokesman for the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said the security of
Australian troops and aid workers was "constantly under review" and had priority in
terms of the relief effort. The Indonesian Government was aware of Australia's
concerns, he said.
The Premier, Bob Carr, was forced to defend himself and the federal Opposition
Leader, Mark Latham, yesterday against claims they were tardy in their response to
the tsunami crisis.
Asked why he had not broken his holiday and gone public immediately, as the
Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, had done, Mr Carr told reporters: "The national
Government is in the front line. This is an international disaster beyond Australian
shores.
"It is expected that the Prime Minister will be dominating the news. There is little role
for the state governments or for the Opposition."
Mr Carr said that when the call had come, NSW had led the way in the national
response.
"We have steadily increased the allocation of emergency services to the front line - I
am not going to crowd out the response in the front line," the Premier said.
Copyright © 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald.
|
