No joint ops with Indonesia: PM
From AAP
AAP
07feb02
PRIME Minister John Howard has ruled out joint operations between Australian and Indonesian special forces under a new bilateral agreement on fighting international terrorism.
The new deal was to be signed by the two countries today but would not include co-operation between the SAS and Kopassus.
Relations between the two countries' special forces were cut after violence flared in East Timor following a vote for independence in the former Indonesian territory in late 1999.
"There have been some suggestions about SAS and Kopassus, I think that's a wrong interpretation," Mr Howard said.
The Prime Minister also said the memorandum of understanding wouldn't include Australia being involved in domestic anti-terrorism operations in Indonesia.
"We are not talking about acceleration of military links, we are not talking about Australia getting involved in domestic matters going to the unity of Indonesia," he told reporters here.
"This memorandum of understanding relates to joint efforts by the two countries to deal with international terrorism.
"It will open up opportunities of cooperation and information sharing between various agencies in Australia and Indonesia and I welcome that development very much."
Mr Howard was asked how Australia would view individuals from the secessionist states of the strongly Islamic province of Aceh and the easternmost province of Papua who are viewed as terrorists by Indonesia.
"This agreement is not going to be any kind of device where Australia gets involved in the domestic affairs of Indonesia, it's about combating international terrorism," he responded.
"We are talking about international terrorism, we are not talking about the domestic affairs of Indonesia."
A number of Indonesian citizens have been arrested in South-East Asia accused of terrorist activities and linked to the terrorist organisation al-Qaeda.
Mr Howard also reissued an invitation for Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri to visit Australia.
"She would be very welcome, at this stage there has been no response as to a time. I hope a visit does come off but I did renew the invitation," he said.
Mr Howard shrugged off suggestions that he had been humiliated by the political storm here that erupted over his visit.
He suggested that a refusal by parliamentarians to accept a courtesy call was more connected to domestic politics.
He revealed that he chatted with Legislative Assembly speaker Amien Rais at a banquet last night despite comments from Dr Rais earlier this week that Mr Howard interfered too much in Indonesian domestic politics.