Australia says new Indonesia pact will boost ties

CANBERRA, Nov 12 (Reuters) A new Australia-Indonesia security pact will strengthen bilateral defence ties but will not lead to Australian intelligence being used against Papuan separatists, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said today.

The treaty, due to be signed tomorrow, was almost scuppered when Canberra granted protection visas to 43 Papuan asylum-seekers who claimed they were being persecuted at home.

The new pact, to be signed by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, provies for stronger intelligence cooperation but makes it clear Australia does not support separatist movements in Indonesia.

''It's very important that we have a cooperative relationship with Indonesia on defence ties. The treaty will in a sense formalise what we are already doing,'' Nelson told Australian television.

''I can assure you that we don't use intelligence in relation to specific issues, and certainly not in relation to separatism,'' he said.

Jakarta tore up a defence pact with Canberra seven years ago after Australia led an international force into East Timor to restore order after the territory voted to break free of Indonesian rule.

The new agreement has been slammed by some Australian opposition politicians and non-government groups, who fear the new agreement will give Indonesia a free hand to suppress groups seeking Papuan independence.

Nelson said the agreement would allow for stronger anti-terror cooperation, joint naval border patrols, and would formalise military exchanges and training. About 70 Indonesians were already undergoing military training in Australia.

Downer said Australia had worked hard to persuade Indonesia to sign a new pact, which will be subjected to a public inquiry and which must be endorsed by parliament in Canberra before it can come into force.

''It won't involve any change in what we do day by day,'' Downer told Australian television today.

''It just makes it clear that the Australian government doesn't support separatism, and the Australian government won't support separatist movements in Indonesia.'' REUTERS SP BD0920