By Rich Bowden:
Indonesian Pres. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the UN. Credit: Agencia Brasil
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to discuss asylum seekers with his hosts as he arrives in Australia for a three-day visit.
The president, accompanied by his wife Mme Ani Yudhoyono, arrived in Canberra earlier this morning where the two were greeted by the Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Mr Yudhoyono will address a joint sitting of Federal Parliament tomorrow before holding talks with Prime Minister Rudd and senior administration officials.
He is to be presented with an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia award from the governor-general.
One of the key topics expected to be discussed between the two presidents will be the problem of asylum seekers arriving in Australia via Indonesia. The increasing numbers of people seeking asylum in Australia has put pressure on the Government in an election year and the Australian PM will be keen to discuss an agreement with Mr Yudhoyono to reduce the numbers.
The two are expected to work out a deal for the remaining 240 Sri Lankan refugees who have been held in the Indonesian port of Merak after the Australian prime minister ordered it be diverted from its Australian destination. However the expected decision to impose heavier penalties on people smugglers will not stem the flow of asylum seekers say refugee advocates.
“Until the Australian government is willing to process and resettle refugees out of Indonesia, the boats will keep coming,” the Refugee Action Coalition’s Ian Rintoul told The Age newspaper. ”Heavier penalties and stiffer sentences will not stop people fleeing persecution.”
Meanwhile in a joint opinion piece written for Fairfax newspapers, both presidents have celebrated a “fast evolving” partnership between the two nations.
Our friendship is founded on shared values, common interests and a vision that the destinies of our nations are closely intertwined. We share a commitment to democracy, pluralism and to maximising opportunities for all our people.
Our friendship has been strengthened through mutual support in times of terrible loss and suffering for both our peoples. We have mourned together the murder of our nationals in terrorist attacks. And we have supported each other through the devastation wreaked by natural disasters – whether the earthquakes in Sumatra or bushfires in Victoria.
Referring to a friendship forged between the two nations, the article emphasized the continued support of the Indonesian people for Australia, citing the increase in students to the country.
The support will be welcomed by the Australian Government at a time when its international reputation is at a low ebb through a number of attacks on Indian students.
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Hello Ian,
Thank you for the interesting comment. Your point re labour and human rights abuses is instructive though I wonder how much of the talks were stifled over the PM's need for a deal on asylum seekers?
Great piece. It's a shame that all of our governments and the tabloids to speak about was asylum seekers, instead of the major issues facing Indonesia and how Australia can support Indonesia overcome these hurdles to further development.
It was also sad to note that our tabloids refused to highlight the on-going labour and human rights abuses.