Indonesia says envoy's return depends on Canberra

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 30 (Reuters) Indonesia today said its envoy would return to Australia once it accepted Canberra's explanation on granting asylum to 42 boat people from the troubled province of Papua.

Several groups of demonstrators had protested outside Australia's embassy in Jakarta against Canberra's decision last week to recognise the Papuans as refugees despite Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asking for their return.

On a visit to Malaysia, Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla told reporters his country would wait for Australia's explanation before sending back its ambassador.

''It depends on the situation,'' he said in the Malaysian capital. ''We'll wait for Australia to explain on the visa issue.'' Indonesia recalled its ambassador last week and described the visa decision as disappointing and deplorable.

Tension between the neighbours increased today after an Indonesian newspaper published a cartoon depicting Australia's prime minister and foreign minister as fornicating dingoes.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the cartoon was ''grotesque''.

Papuan independence activists have campaigned for more than 30 years to break away from Indonesia, while a low-level rebellion has also simmered. Human rights groups accuse Indonesia of widespread abuses there, but Jakarta denies any wrongdoing.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has reassured Indonesia that his country has not changed its support for Indonesian sovereignty over Papua, saying Canberra's processes for dealing with asylum seekers were free of foreign policy considerations.

Reuters SB BD1620

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