Australia-Indonesia relations (1): Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the JI, and the "war on terror"www.newsphotos.com.au
Well, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the spiritual head of the Jemmah Islamiyah, was released a few days ago for his alleged role in giving his blessings for the October 2002 Bali bomb blasts, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
I think it'd be fair to say a lot of people in Australia are disgusted and unhappy at his release. And this cartoon aptly captures it. You're looking at an Indonesian court... and the cartoonist (Bill Leak) is saying that murdering 200 people is a less severe crime than importing dope (an obvious reference to Schapelle Corby, Michelle Leslie, and the Bali 9 gang). He's saying that the Indonesian judicial system is flawed, one that incarcerates someone who is seen as responsible for 200 deaths for only 26 months, and people like Corby gets jailed for 15 years.
But the point people here miss is that, the people who were directly responsible for the attacks, for e.g. Amorozi (the smiling guy) and two others are currently on death row for their involvement. On the other hand, there is nothing tangible to link Ba'asyir to the bomb attacks, just that he is a "spiritual leader". And besides, Jemmah Islamiyah means "Community of Muslims", and while most Indonesians do not necessarily support the JI, they are unwilling to exclude them because they are seen as an integral part of the Muslim community. Besides, people are sympathetic that they were marginalised during Soeharto's New Order.
I think, the problem is that Aussies and Indonesians have differing understandings as what consitutes a "terrorist" organisation. For Australians, it is definitely the JI, while our neighbours reckon it is the GAM (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka), which is more better characterised as a separatist movement instead of a terror cell.
Australia-Indonesia relations (2): West Papua and asylum seekersTo understand this, we need to go back to Febuary 2006, when 43 refugees from West Papua came to Australia by boat attempting to seek asylum. Canberra offered protection visas to 42 of them, which is an implicit recognition that there are human rights abuses ("well-founded fear of persecution") committed by the Indonesians and especially the military.
Of course, Indonesia was not very amused as Jakarta saw this as vindication that Australia is supporting Papuan independence and compromising Indonesia's territorial integrity. Given what happened in East Timor, where Canberra "betrayed" Indonesia by facilitating Timorese independence by leading a multinational peacekeeping force (INTERFET) in the aftermath of the destruction orchestrated by pro-Indonesia militias, Indonesia thought the East Timor imbroglio was happening all over again. The Indonesian ambassador to Australia was withdrawn for 3 months - he recently came back last week.
And Australia proposed a new migration amendment that would see all unauthorised boat arrivals being processed offshore on Nauru - an extension of the "Pacific Solution" - rather than onshore processing. The federal opposition (Labor) thinks Australia is appeasing Jakarta on this issue, that Indonesia is dictating Australia's immigration policy. Apparently, if this amendment goes through, Australia would be in contravention of its obligations under the UN Convention for Refugees, of which it is a signatory. And most people (based on public polls), do not support the Howard administration on this.
I think what we are looking at here is an apparent disjuncture between government policy and public opinion (and this has always been a hallmark of Australian policy towards Indonesia - witness East Timor and Paul Keating's over-the-top eagerness to pander to Soeharto), and a tension between upholding human rights principles and the importance of close ties with Indonesia, given common security and strategic interests.
Coming back to the cartoon, which is entitled "The Neighbour From Hell", you see that Howard is the one hosting the barbie (BBQ) in his backyard, but the neighbour (aka Indonesia) is saying "Oi! I told you not to invite him!", and Howard is saying to the West Papuan - "Sorry kid, you heard what the man said..." - Therefore, Bill Leak is saying don't you think it is a bit ironic that I can't invite who I want to my own garden, and that I must listen to my neighbour as to who I want to call along? - an not so subtle criticism of Indonesia seemingly attempting to influence Australia's immigration policy.