From Antara News, Rabu, 18 Februari 2015
Premier Tony Abbotts threats are not part of the diplomatic language as he linked Australian aid during tsunami with the execution of two Bali Nines members, stated Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministrys spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir.
Nasir noted during a press briefing here on Wednesday that he had not read or studied Abbotts comments on tsunami aid but understood that he had drawn reference to "the issue now in Indonesia."
"I hope the statement made (by Tony Abbott) does not reflect the true colors of the Australians," he remarked.
Earlier, on Wednesday morning, Premier Abbott made the statement that Indonesia should remember that Australia had given a US$1 billion aid package for the rehabilitation of the victims of the 2004 tsunami that had struck Aceh. Hence, the country should reciprocate the gesture by sparing the lives of its two citizens on death row who have been convicted for smuggling drugs.
Nasir added that Indonesia does not want to speculate on Australias diplomatic reaction to the death penalty handed down to Bali Nines drug smugglers, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, whose clemency pleas were rejected by President Joko Widodo.
"I do not want to speculate on what Australia will do, but threats are not part of the diplomatic language, and no one responds well to threats," he remarked.
On Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 17), Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stated that the death penalty imposed by the Indonesian Supreme Court was part of law enforcement and not directed to a particular country or nationals of certain countries.
Minister Marsudi also emphasized that an emergency situation has been declared in Indonesia due to the rampant rise in the cases of drug trafficking, which is believed to have social and economic repercussions on the country.
"The issue has reached its critical stage where international drug trafficking networks have turned Indonesia into one of the worlds biggest target markets for drugs. I think I have made it very clear with regard to this issue," she remarked.
( Mr. Tony Abbott has let the cat outof the bag here that a great deal of the politicians think of Indonesia as a third rate banana republic which must dance to whatever tune Australia decides to play because of aid received (specifically this 1 billion donated after that dreadful tsunami),or Aussie's private playgound (Bali) when a high ranking politician threatened to call for a boycott on tourism if those executions are going ahead. But what really irked me is that Mr Abbott is reported to be a practising Christian and Roman Catholic at that. Has this honorable gentleman forgotten what his Bible says, that is if he has read it al all? It goes something like "Do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing"(Matthew 6:3) or for that matter the Parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), just makes me wonder...., siK's opinion)
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za 21 feb 2015 - 22:03