Indonesia criticises Burma's lack of progress towards democracy

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200902/2496914.htm?desktop

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda has criticised Burma's human rights record and its failure to make lack of progress towards democracy.

However, speaking to Radio Australia's Connect Asia program, Dr Wirajuda said the international community must stay engaged with Burma, despite the fact that diplomatic pressure and sanctions have so far proved ineffective in achieving democratic change.

Dr Wirajuda says the regional problem created by the outflow of Muslim Rohingya refugees from Burma into Indonesia and Thailand highlights the need for an integrated approach from other countries.

"There is a sign of moving here and as a process of course, you cannot expect that we can change tomorrow," he said.

"But we are all working and in fact I would say that the neighbouring countries of Burma, not only ASEAN, have also worked together."



Dr Wirajuda is in Sydney for two days of high-level discussions with the Australian government.



Calls for Australia to lift Indonesian travel warnings

Earlier in his visit to Australia Dr Wirajuda said he would keep raising the issue of Australian travel warnings, despite his latest appeal for them to be lifted being turned down.

Australia, which has had a travel warning in place for Indonesia since the Bali nightclub bombings in 2002, says travel advisories are assessed regularly on the basis of expert advice.

But Dr Wirajuda says there hasn't been a terrorist bombing in Indonesia for three years, and says any potential threats are often exaggerated.

"Indonesia is one of the most successful countries in combating terrorism so the potential threat was often overblown, our police have been very effective in their task to combat terrorism," he said.

He told Radio Australia that Canberra should follow the example set by other countries and lift its travel warning.

"It's more a matter of Australians to decide, of course, but it has to be commensurated through the developments on the ground," he said.

"First there has been no incidents of terrorism bombings in Indonesia in the past three years and countries like the United States and Canada have lifted their travel warnings since last year.

"The fact there has been quite a flowing of tourists from Australia, it is also a fact, the Australian people themselves decide whether to travel to Indonesia by their own judgement, so it is in this context that we see that it is timely for the Australian government to lift the travel advice.