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Respect the key to better Jakarta relations
The Australian - February 6, 2017
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, a strong advocate for Australian-Indonesian relations and one of President Joko Widodo's most trusted advisers, told The Australian the relationship was "very, very important" for Indonesia, particularly given the neighbours' shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the tempestuous South China Sea.
Asked how Australia might avoid the intermittent bilateral upsets that have come to characterise one of our most important relationships, he said: "We have to respect each other. That is number one. If I may also advise, you don't want me to touch your domestic problems so please don't touch too much our domestic problems.
"You want to advise, give some support? No problem. But don't interfere in domestic issues.
"We have issues like Papua and some others, I strongly advise leave it to us. We know how to take care of our problems. We never comment on Aborigines because it's also a sensitive issue in Australia. So if we can maintain like this... then I believe Indonesia and Australia will stay good neighbours."
Relations between Australia and Indonesia hit a fresh roadblock last month after Indonesian military chief Gatot Nurmantyo suspended some ties over the use of allegedly offensive teaching materials in an officer exchange program at Perth's Campbell Barracks. The material is said to have included references to the West Papuan liberation movement, a highly sensitive subject for the Indonesian military, which still smarts over Australia's role in East Timor's independence.
Lieutenant-General Campbell is due in Jakarta on Wednesday to relay the results of an investigation into the issue. A decision will then be made on whether to lift the suspension.
Mr Luhut, a former military general and security minister, played down the dispute and said the two countries should be allowed to resolve the issue out of the spotlight.
He also dismissed concerns that rising tensions in the South China Sea, fanned by Chinese territorial aggression and muscular statements by the new Trump administration, could lead to war.
But he flagged a greater regional peacekeeping role this year for Mr Widodo, who has previously been criticised for failing to show leadership within the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations group.
Indonesia "did not want to see any power projection" from America or China in the region, and was ready to play a greater role to maintain peace in the South China Sea, one of the world's most valuable shipping routes. "We are the largest ASEAN member by population and GDP, so we can play a positive role," Mr Luhut said.
"Maybe by the middle of this year our role will become more and more. The last two-and-a-half years we have concentrated domestically on stabilising our economy. Right now it's time for the President to give some more time to consolidate ASEAN countries, because other members look to Indonesia."
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