http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/20/2497324.htm?section=justin
By Sen Lam for Connect Asia
Posted Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:07pm AEDT
Updated Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:59pm AEDT
Dr Wirajuda is in Australia on a three-day official visit. (Reuters: Daniel Munoz)
Sen Lam speaks to Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda (ABC AP APNC) Related Story: Connect Asia speaks to Indonesian FM Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda has criticised Burma's lack of progress towards democracy, as well as its human rights record.
But he says the international community must stay engaged with Indonesia's fellow ASEAN member, arguing that pressure and sanctions have proved ineffective in achieving change.
Dr Wirajuda has told Sen Lam on ABC Radio Australia's Connect Asia program that the regional problem created by the outflow of Rohingya refugees only emphasises the need for an international approach.
"There is a sign of moving here and as a process of course you can not 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 discussions with the Australian Government.
Travel warnings
Dr Wirajuda says he will keep raising the issue of Australian travel warnings, despite failing in his latest appeal for them to be lifted.
Australia says travel advisories are assessed regularly on the basis of expert advice.
But he says there have not been been any recent terrorist bombings, and potential threats are often exaggerated.
He says Australia should follow the example of countries such as the United States and lift its travel advice.
"It's more a matter of Australians to decide of course, but it has to be commensurated through the developments on the ground," Dr Wirajuda 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.
"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."
Tags: government-and-politics, federal-government, foreign-affairs, australia, indonesia, burma
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Burma needs to speed up democracy: Indonesia FM
Friday, February 20, 2009
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.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Rohingya Issue Expected to be Raised during Asean Summit
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15129
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By THE IRRAWADDY Tuesday, February 17, 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan has confirmed that the plight of the Rohingya boatpeople will be discussed in bilateral, informal meetings at the summit of the 10-nation group next week.
The former Thai foreign minister told the Bangkok English-language daily The Nation: “The Rohingyas may not be included in the formal agenda but we have to discuss this either during the bilateral meetings or in the informal meetings.”
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said last week after a meeting with Thailand’s current Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya that their two countries had agreed to use the Asean forum to discuss the Rohingya issue.
He said Thailand had accepted an Indonesian proposal to tackle the Rohingya problem through the Bali Process, a ministerial forum that aims to develop measures to help combat human trafficking and other related transnational crimes in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We are going to renew the Bali process,” Kasit said. “We should pick up from where we left off and tackle this problem in a very coordinated manner. We hope to find the best possible solution to address the problem.”
Surin told The Nation that Asean couldn’t avoid discussing human rights issues “but not in the context of condemning any country.”
Surin said: “Human rights is a challenging issue. We can’t avoid discussion on this.” He drew attention to Asean’s adoption of a human rights charter at its summit in Singapore last December.
Asean leaders are to meet at the Thai resort of Cha Am from February 27 until March 1.
At the time of the Burmese junta’s crackdown on monk-led demonstrations in September 2007, Asean broke with its customary reticence about the commenting on the affairs of its members and expressed “revulsion” at the bloodshed.
In an official statement, nine of the bloc’s 10 foreign ministers said they were “appalled to receive reports of automatic weapons being used” on crowds, causing hundreds of casualties.
Thailand’s Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda began a two-day official visit to Burma on Tuesday, saying he wasn’t certain whether it would be appropriate to discuss the Rohingya issue with Burmese leaders.
Gen Anupong and his delegation were welcomed to Naypyidaw by the junta No. 2, Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye. He is also scheduled to call on junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe.
Posts
