Aussie spies face expulsion from Jakarta
Indonesia could eject Australian spies and diplomats from Jakarta in retaliation for Tony Abbott's refusal to apologise for large-scale phone tapping operations in the country.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned yesterday that all co-operation with Canberra was under "review" after revelations that Australian spies eavesdropped on his personal mobile phone and the phones of his wife and inner circle.
In Parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister rejected calls by Labor and Indonesia to show contrition, saying it was the "first duty" of governments to protect the country and advance national interests.
"That's why every government gathers information and why every government knows that every other government gathers information," Mr Abbott said.
"Australia should not be expected to apologise for the steps we take to protect our country now or in the past, any more than other governments should be expected to apologise for the similar steps that they have taken."
Dr Yudhoyono used Twitter to say he regretted statements by Mr Abbott that had "belittled" the spying issue. "We will also review again a number of bilateral co-operation agenda as a consequence of such hurtful action by Australia," he wrote.
Senior Australian officials said they feared Indonesia would move to expel all "declared" Australian spies based in the Australian embassy in Jakarta.Foreign embassies usually tell host countries some staff are officially working for intelligence agencies. Others remain covert agents.Opposition Leader Bill Shorten suggested that Mr Abbott should follow the lead of US President Barack Obama, who apologised to German Chancellor Angela Merkel when it was revealed US spies tapped her phone. "We should not allow these matters to fester," Mr Shorten said.Indonesia's Ambassador to Australia, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, flew out of Canberra yesterday after being recalled by Jakarta for "consultations" over the spying affair.Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has said the partnerships with Australia under review will probably extend to efforts to combat people smuggling.Indonesian newspapers were yesterday dominated by calls for a tough response to the phone tapping scandal.One of the biggest-selling newspapers, Media Indonesia, carried an editorial calling for a "harsh response to the Kangaroo Country, which has betrayed the good relationship"."It's time to remind the world that Indonesia is not a nation to be treated in this way," it said.
