PM shrugs off Indonesian snub
From AAP
06feb02
PRIME Minister John Howard has shrugged off a planned snub by senior Indonesian politicians during his visit to Jakarta.
National Assembly speaker Amien Rais has said he will boycott a meeting with Mr Howard because Australia has meddled too much in Indonesia's domestic affairs.
Parliamentary speaker Akbar Tanjung is also expected to boycott meetings with Mr Howard, who arrives in Jakarta today.
But, asked about the snub, Mr Howard told ABC radio: "I'm not particularly troubled by that.
"I think if you want to pursue that matter further it should be pursued in Indonesia."
Mr Howard's three day visit - his second in six months - is aimed at improving ties with Indonesia following last year's spat with President Megawati Sukarnoputri over illegal immigrants.
Indonesian political leaders took offence at Mr Howard's election campaign last year, claiming he had politicised the problem of illegal immigrants who pass through Indonesia on their way to Australia.
Mrs Megawati also refused to take Mr Howard's phone calls last year after he refused to allow a Norwegian freighter carrying more than 430 asylum seekers rescued from the Indian Ocean to dock on Christmas Island.
Mr Rais told reporters he would also refuse to accept a courtesy call from Mr Howard on Thursday because Australia supported independence movements in the Indonesian provinces of Papua to the east and Aceh to the north-west.