Prime Minister Rudd's so called apology to the stolen generation is coming up.
Let's see how this goes down.
Australia has been critical of Indonesia's human rights record and now comes the time to acknowledge our own less-than-perfect track record.

LOL it was said today 9.00 Eastern standard time...Everyone in Aus. seems to be so interested, and at school the teachers was preaching to us on how important this day is...

A leader saying "sorry" for marginalising black indigenous people is one thing, but a white population changing its mindset towards Aborigines is another thing.

yes i agree with you Ralf...so many centuries we underestimate these people and it's hard to suddenly just change your view about them and by saying sorry doesn't mean the whole problem will go away too...today I saw some MPs who were insulting this historical moment on TV..it was pretty a shameful act i reckon..

Reliable neighbour?
No
Their policy is as unpredictable as the Americans
Meaning that we need to be always on guard against another east-timoresque dolchstoss (stab-in-the-back)
Remember the Deputy-Sheriff ?
Given chance I think they want to treat us as US treats Mexico & the rest of South America,
That is, as vassal states

Have you been to Australia ??? Then I believe you will get a different perception about them...
I'm lucky that i have experienced living in 2 different worlds and i know 2 different stories...
btw I hope you've been reading the news lately, Australia has a new PM, and he is different.

Been to Oz? Never, but I met one here in Germany Nice guy & pretty wild
Of course we never talk politics, just booze, chicks, clubs

(Ahem)
So they get a new PM & he is different? Then they'll get another PM & lemme guess, he is different too...

I dislike goverments, never people. I don't even like our own goverment

Just my 2 rupiahs

Once i thought you are one of those anti American or an anarchist...since you don't like any kind of govt and America. Indeed maybe you are. but if this is how you perceive Australia, then i guess you can believe what you believe...
however i think people should not be skeptical about Australia cause, i have to say, it is a great country until they have experienced living in Australia...
don't take it personally but that bloke you described sounds like a "average" Aussie bloke..
and yes they're PM is much better and he is very different. You're very skeptical about things...try to be much more positive.

What's to take personally ?
Wow, if the average guy is like that then we can have parties all the time :D
He's back in Oz now. Uni Wollongong (spelling?) 10min from the sea he said
More chicks (& booze&clubs)

(Ahem)
Back to topic,
I don't think Oz can be reliable neighbour (or the reverse, depending how you see it)
We're too different. The pressure groups over there are too idealists!
The gov't, from time to time, will succumb to pressure & in a fit of temporary insanity, ruin a relationship.

Well, I was 17 in 1999. What I detest is the sanctimonious way they treat the E. Timor secession.
So we lost E. Timor, okay. But I'm sure they can be A LOT more civil (& polite) way in handling it
Make no mistake. I don't condone what our military might have done there, but to trample on years of good relationship?

They have new premier? Good for them. But I'm sure that had this been 1999, Rudd would've done the same as Howard.

As for our gov't, any gov't that can let someone like Bakrie ruins the lives of many... (LAPINDO) -he ought to be SHOT!!!
Is simply not worth our money (& vote) to support
No, I despise our gov't & Mega (do nothing) before it, & Gus Dur (bicara ngawur) before it , Habibie & Suharto (need I say why?)

Well thats how you see the world then let it be...I realise i can't and do not want to change your mind..
btw it's a Prime Minister

I agree that the East Timor thing put pressure on the relationship between our 2 countries and I agree that we can be sanctimonious as a country, in the past more so then the present. But with East Timor I think its like breaking up with someone who doesn't want the relationship to end ie there is no nice way of doing it.

ikut nimrug,
relationship between 2 or more countries dictated by each individual country national interest and a common goal.
on the timtim issue, Oz gov silent during Indonesia invasion coz they fear that timtim will turn to caos and turn into communism. so its a good idea for Indonesia to invade timtim(at that time). so heres a big benefit for the Oz + US national interest as well as Indonesian interest. the common goal is to put a stop the spreading of communism.

but as time pass and the interest of each country changed+ some abuses only lead to a conflict of interest between OZ+ US against Indonesia. specialy when they realised that timor gap is one of the biggest oil store. to cut a story short, in the end timtim gain its independent, and relation of the three countries at the bottom level. but after the bombing, the three countires back in the same interest and a common goal, that is to bring back peace and eradicate terrorism.
now all super duper, but for how long? maybe until we have nuclear reactor and the Oz refuse to sell uranium to us, maybe..
only maybe...

masuk akal gak? kalo gak maklumin aja..hehe pikiran lagi ruwet.

Rudd`s visit reinforces Jakarta-Canberra cooperation

Friday, 13 June 2008

Source: ANTARA News Agency

Jakarta - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd`s first state visit to Indonesia this week has re-affirmed and continued Canberra`s commitment to bilateral cooperation laid down by his predecessor John Howard.

"Rudd`s visit to Indonesia is part of the new Australian government`s policy to continue the cooperation initiated during John Howard`s administration," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.

According to Wirajuda, the partnership cooperation between Indonesia and Australia was one of the things both nations should continue. Indonesia and Australia signed a partnership cooperation agreement when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited Australia in 2005.

During his two-day first state visit to Indonesia, Rudd discussed with his Indonesian counterpart President Yudhoyono a wide range of issues such as trade, climate change, tourism and other matters of mutual concern.

On Friday, Yudhoyono and Rudd, who arrived in Jakarta on Thursday for his first state visit since taking power in November last year, discussed various issues and witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement on forest management and carbon trading between the two countries.

Indonesia and Australia agreed to cooperate in coping with the impact of climate change. The cooperation was provided for in a Forest Carbon Partnership agreement signed after a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace on Friday.

"We discussed cooperation to cope with climate change in concrete ways. We have signed an Australia-Indonesia Forest Carbon Partnership agreement as a model of bilateral cooperation to anticipate climate change in the forestry field," Yudhoyono said.

In the tourism sector, Indonesia hoped more Australian tourists will come to Indonesia as security conditions in the country have become more conducive.

"In terms of cooperation in the tourism sector, the number of Australian tourists coming to Indonesia increased by 35 percent in 2007 compared to the previous year. I hope this can be maintained," President Yudhoyono told a press conference after his meeting with Kevin Rudd.

Indonesia`s tourist resort island of Bali was rocked by terrorist bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005 which killed many people, including Australians.

Since then, the governments of Australia and Indonesia have agreed not to bow to terrorists, and to increase bilateral cooperation to ensure such incidents will never happen again.

"I am saying that conditions in Indonesia are back to normal. A lot of Australian tourists now come to Bali and I hope their number will increase," Yudhoyono said.

In the trade field, Indonesia and Australia are formulating a free trade agreement (FTA) which is expected to be finalized in 2009.

According to Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesia hopes that bilateral negotiations on the FTA will be completed in 2009 if talks on FTA at the ASEAN level (including Australia and New Zealand) are concluded this year.

"We will wait for the completion of talks on ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand (AANZ) free trade this year. After the AANZ negotiations are finalized, Indonesia and Australia will hold talks on their bilateral FTA deal which are expected to be finished in 2009," the minister said.

Negotiations on FTA AANZ began in Vietnam early in June but both sides had not yet agreed on any modality for the regional FTA.

Australia and New Zealand want that the market for 96 percent of the tariff posts of commodities should be opened but ASEAN countries want smaller tariff post percentage.

So far, various FTA negotiations have been discussing only 90 percent of the tariff posts. The remaining were lists of sensitive products whose markets were not open.

Australia and New Zealand have been asking that animal products --their principal commodities such as meat and milk-- be freed from import duties.

Indonesian, in the meantime, asked Australia and New Zealand to open their markets for textile and textile products.

According to Rudd, bilateral cooperation in the economic field should be intensified and negotiations on regional trade among Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN would be continued.

On the occasion, the Indonesian president supported Australia`s idea to enhance dialogs on culture.

"We also agreed to continue regional and bilateral cooperation to overcome current global problems such as the food and energy crises, how to reduce the burden especially for developing countries," Yudhoyono said. ***

RI, Australia to cooperate on defense
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 01/12/2009 9:37 PM | National

Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Djoko Susanto met with Australian Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Allan Grant Houston on Monday in Jakarta to further discuss defense cooperation between the two countries.

"Australia is willing to partner with Indonesia for the region's security and peace," Allan said in a press statement.

The cooperation talk was an extension of previous discussion made by Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon in Australia, in March last year.

Allan said the cooperation would cover matters of terrorism, sea security, intelligence, humanitarian aid and peacekeeping. Both countries, he said, have agreed to hold joint military training and patrols as well as cooperation on student exchange and post-graduate scholarship programs. (dre)

Rabu, 11/02/2009 17:12 WIB

Polri Kirim Tim Identifikasi ke Australia



Didit Tri Kertapati - detikNews
Jakarta - Bertepatan Valentine's Day 14 Februari 2009, Polri akan mengirimkan tim Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) ke Australia. Tim akan membantu menangani musibah kebakaran semak di Victoria yang disebut bak neraka itu.

"Akan diberangkatkan 6 orang dari tim Disaster Victim Identification untuk mengidentifikasi mayat," kata Kadiv Humas Mabes Polri Irjen Pol Abubakar Nataprawira saat dihubungi wartawan, Rabu (11/2/2009).

Abubakar mengatakan, tim tersebut diambil dari Pusat Kedokteran Kesehatan Polri. "Rencananya kan dikirimkan Sabtu lusa," ujarnya.

Sumber api kebakaran di Australia diketahui berada pada sekitar 80 km (50 mile) utara Melbourne. Korban tewas bisa mencapai 300 orang.
(gus/nrl)

Kevin Rudd to announce Australia's biggest military build-up since World War II

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Defence white paper to be released.
- Will be biggest boost to military since WWII.
- Multi-billion-dollar investment in defence.

KEVIN Rudd is set to announce Australia's biggest military build-up since World War II, led by a multi-billion-dollar investment in maritime defence, including 100 new F-35 fighters, a doubling of the submarine fleet, and powerful new surface warships.

The new defence white paper will outline plans for a fundamental shake-up of Australia's defence organisation to ensure that the nation can meet what the Prime Minister sees as a far more challenging and uncertain security outlook in Asia over the next two decades.

China's steadily growing military might and the prospect of sharper strategic competition among Asia's great powers are driving the maritime build-up, which will see new-generation submarines and warships equipped with cruise missiles, and a big new investment in anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare platforms, including new naval helicopters.

The white paper will consider the emerging non-traditional threats to Australia, including cyber security, climate change and its associated risk of large uncontrolled people movements, The Australian reports.

Senior government sources say Mr Rudd has insisted that defence spending remain largely insulated from the Government's budget difficulties, but the Defence Department will still have to find at least $15 billion of internal savings over the next decade to help pay for the $100 billion-plus long-term equipment plan.

Mr Rudd said yesterday the delivery of the white paper was proving "acutely challenging as we work to defend ourselves from the global economic storm".

"It is the most difficult environment to frame the Australian budget in modern economic history. It is also the most difficult environment to frame our long-term defence planning in modern economic history as well," he told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

"Nevertheless the Government will not resile even in the difficult times from the requirement for long-term coherence of our defence planning for the long-term security of our nation. This is core business for government.

"That is why we have forged ahead in our preparation of the defence white paper because national security needs do not disappear because of the global recession. If anything, those needs become more acute."

Funding pressures will mean the navy will not get a fourth air warfare destroyer, and the delivery of the first batch of the RAAF's F-35 joint strike fighters will slip by at least one year to 2014-15.

The huge cost of paying for the next-generation defence force, due to be detailed in the white paper and the forthcoming 10-year defence capability plan, will have little impact on the defence budget over the the next four years.

Apart from the air warfare destroyers and the F-35 fighters, most of the planned defence purchases will not have to be paid for until well into the next decade and beyond.

Mr Rudd and Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon are expected to release the long-awaited white paper as early as next week, with the more detailed 10-year defence capability plan due to published by mid-year.

The naval build-up will be led by a planned 12-strong submarine fleet expected to replace the Collins-class boats from 2025.

It will enable the RAN to deploy up to seven boats to protect Australia's northern approaches, including key maritime straits running through the Indonesian archipelago, at times of high threat.

The white paper will outline the requirement for a new class of eight 7000-tonne warships equipped with ballistic missile defence systems similar to the three air warfare destroyers already on order that will eventually replace the Anzac frigates.

A new class of 1500-tonne corvette-size patrol boats able to take a helicopter is slated to replace the Armidale-class vessels from the mid-2020s.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...16-421,00.html

So, they want us to release this drugssmugler....

The courts have found her guilty and she deserved what she got. She should serve out her sentence. If the Indonesian govnt chooses to release her early as an act of friendship towards Aust or for humanitarian reasons, that is their choice and certainly should not be at the influence of the Aust govnt, or tied in with any aid that we give you. She broke Indonesain law and therefore should serve her time in an Indonesian jail.

It may surprise Indonesians but most Australians I have heard speak about this subject feel she only has herself to blame. She knew the law and she took the risk, she got caught and now she needs to take her medicine.

corby is sexy cute ....
media looooves her

^Wow man there are so much better looking girls in Aust than her...lol.

There is a lot of confusion between race, and culture. Indonesians seem to make "Race" an issue. Australians do not see race as an issue. I believe that "culture" is the issue. Can this be bridged? I believe that it cannot because the gap is unbridgeable. We have to dig deep into culture to discover the real divide.

you are absolutelly right, i never trust them, white is white they always try to fool us

^Asians are always Asians, thinking that they are superior than others. They also ripped you off badly in business. It's all about the profit making no ?

some australians, not all of them, are ignorance. they think indonesia is the land of dangerous. earthquakes, bombs, religion wars, etc. when their idol who's half indo came to jakjazz fest last december they were like "oh i hope she came back safely". fahrani is famous there and when she said to australian newspaper that she wanted to make a movie about indonesia with australian producer, the australian netizens commented "does she know exactly the situation in indonesia?" that's just so dumb. of course she knows. they don't. and how i laugh at their overconfident about balibo becoming a "secretly" box office movie in indo. -lol

Balibo hasn't become a "secretly" box office movie here, but i've bought a DVD of it (bajakan lah...) and i've watched it......
Its even more anti-Indonesia than i thought....
The first sign was the cover: they tell the buyer about the storyline and the "young and charismatic Ramos Horta"...that doesnt sound like a objective movie....
The film started with this.....


They didn't tell there was a civil war first, with a chance that it destabilize the whole region.
So the penonton (whats the word of it in English, watcher?) get already the idea, "Oh, this small defenceless nation of east Timor is invaded by its huge aggressive neighbour."
Later in the film ofcourse, the agressive barbarian savages of Indonesians just kill and destroy for pleasure, like the Vikings in that B-movie of "Pathfinder".
Just killing as much as possible innocent defenceless civillians....




And ofcourse those Indonesians wearing red barets, and their commander looks like a mafia-boss....
This movie is really demonizing us.

But the camera work was good, the acting performance also.
It was a good movie, because the makers want the public really hate the Indonesians, especially the Australians, after watching this movie. And if i was one of those penonton without any knowldge of Timor Lorosae and Indonesia, i'll really have a very negative image of Indonesia and its people.

Did it happen or did it not happen? It all depends on how you look at it.

War is hell.
From a film maker's perspective, I can tell you that Australians are currently making films that turn a critical eye on the brutal massacres of innocent villagers in Afghanistan.
The Australian media is not so sensitive to criticizing its own military.

This is an interesting article: (read the comments also)

We are so close, but so far apart

By YULI ISMARTONO

March 11, 2010


The Australian and Indonesian leaders are friendly, but the people need to get better acquainted, writes Yuli Ismartono.

In Indonesia and Australia, the media have predicted the visit of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will enhance bilateral relations.

Government-to-government relations have been quite stable since Yudhoyono came to power in 2004, despite the change in Australian administrations. We have co-operation between police forces in countering terrorism, a comfortable agreement between armed forces on regional security issues and mutual respect for our roles and positions in the global arena.

As Yudhoyono begins his second and last presidential term, he will seek to cement this positive relationship.

He and Kevin Rudd have to address immediate issues such as people smuggling, illegal fishing and the balance of trade. But polling by the Lowy Institute suggests people-to-people relations still fall short of the positive state of affairs the leaders enjoy.

Australians, it seems, remain suspicious of Indonesians.

In the words of one of my Australian colleagues, "public opinion still sees Indonesia as a dark and dangerous place". Perhaps Indonesia may no longer be seen as a threat, which we find rather laughable given a realistic assessment of our limited military capabilities.

The negative perception Australians still hold of Indonesians can upset goodwill achieved at the leadership level, although it does not help that Indonesians tend to be reactive, defensive and overly nationalistic when their country is criticised in the Australian media.

As much as many journalists and other informed Australians understand Indonesia and its problems, when it comes to reporting and writing, many journalists admit they are hostage to the news of the day. The tendency is to report what is negative about Indonesia, rather than what it is doing right. Conversely, reactionary reports in Indonesia can trigger protests that can have a cyclical effect. Yet the media can and should play a vital role in changing public opinion.

We know human issues like the Schapelle Corby case and the possible execution of some of the Bali nine can turn Australian public opinion. While Indonesians sympathize with the situation these people find themselves in, they ask why Australians cannot accept that the rule of law applies in Indonesia just as it does in Australia.

A more emotive issue, of course, is Balibo, which has forever coloured the way the Australian media regard Indonesia.

While Indonesians do not condone the tragic incident, they feel there must come a time to move on. After all, no one has been held accountable for what happened in 1965 when half a million people were killed in what started out as a purge of the Indonesian Communist Party.

It is this divide between the two countries, which are so close geographically but so far apart in culture and street-level thinking, that must be understood and reconciled.

In East Timor, the Jakarta and Dili governments have concluded a friendship and reconciliation agreement, although it may take a lot longer for the people themselves to come to terms with the events of the past.

Australians need to know the reforms introduced in Indonesia more than a decade ago make it unlikely such tragic incidents will recur. Indonesia is a democracy, run by a legitimately elected civilian government.

The once all-powerful security apparatus can no longer act as a law unto itself and the police are being trained in community policing by no less than their New Zealand and Australian counterparts.

There have been encouraging developments since last year's conference on the future of bilateral relations organised by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and others, while exchange teachers are working in each other's countries and a media internship program involves 19 Australian universities.

Perhaps we need more popular and less serious exchanges, too. An Australian-Indonesian film festival would be most welcome, as would screening Australian soap operas on Indonesian television, with appropriate subtitles. >> Ralf!!

As the Jakarta Jazz Festival has shown, a good Australian jazz band can fill concert halls in Jakarta, Surabaya and even Makassar.

Everything is worth trying.

furansizuka:

elle: Let me try to address some of the points you have raised here. By nature, Indonesians are the most hospitable, kind, laid-back people on earth. This is why so many people enjoyed going to Bali and other holiday resorts in Indonesia to enjoy the sunshine and the happy carefree nature of the Indonesian people. Then suddenly without any provocative reasons, hotels are blown up and tourists killed by the hundreds, and people are confused and start asking questions WHY? These tourists lose their confidence and start trying to find a reason why they are hated for having their holidays in Indonesia.

Then when the press or the tourists criticise Indonesia, the Indonesian become indignant and spew out insults at these foreigners and make life very unpleasant. Shattering all confidence in a good relationship. Indonesians take criticisms badly even if it is the truth. So how can there be a dialogue to build any kind of understanding when Indonesians will not want to discuss things that are sensitive?

Avoiding the serious exchanges, and sticking to the popular and less sensitive issues, will not solve the problem because the suspicion is always there. The big problem is Indonesians do not like to face and tackle the unpleasant problems and it is a no go area. So the basic problem is swept under the mat, until it flares up the next time. And it will fester till the problem can be aired and resolved.

But I am not so sure that the problem can be resolved so easily, because the problem is probably based on the difference of cultures and philosophies of life. But if we cannot discuss it without anger how can we resolve it? In an honest discussion, there is no such thing as positive reporting or negative reporting. Both side have to be heard. Of course bigotry always rears its ugly head because largely out of ignorance. But only with discourse that people can understand one another and try to adjust if it is possible.

I do believe that changes in "street level thinking" will greatly improve Australian-Indonesian relations.
Politicians have been talking on a serious level, but even Aussies feel that they are motivated to a large degree by vested interests and financial gain.
Street level exchanges in popular culture are much more likely to improve relations.
The Human face of Australia gotta say "hello" to the Human face of Indonesia.

My involvement with IFF stems to a large degree from my experience that pop-culture street level exchanges do improve Human relations.
One of the goals of IFF is to clear up some of that lingering misunderstanding and fear through the medium of film exchanges.
BTW There is an IFF committee meeting tonight at 5pm in the Milano Function Room in Franklin Street, Melbourne. All are welcome to attend.

IMO better understanding between 2 countries should first come from common people like us the youngsters before the government. you can't underestimate popular exchanges because that's one of the best ways aside heavy talks by intellects to get people close, a language that's easier to understand and accept by young generation who mostly spend times on internet than reading newspapers.

44 Tahun Hilang, Ditemukan di Kalimantan
By Pipiet Tri Noorastuti - Rabu, 17 MaretKirim Kirim via YM Cetak


VIVAnews - Jasad dua tentara Australia, yang dinyatakan hilang selama 44 tahun terakhir, baru saja ditemukan di kawasan Kalimantan Barat. Mereka raib saat bertugas di pedalaman Indonesia pada 1966 silam.

Perdana Menteri Australia, Kevin Rudd, mengatakan, penemuan itu tak luput dari campur tangan militer Indonesia. "Sekarang sudah positif teridentifikasi," ujarnya seperti dikutip dari laman The Australian, Selasa, 16 Maret 2010.

Dua tentara yang tergabung dalam pasukan elit Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) itu adalah Letnan Ken Hudson dan Private Bob Moncrieff. Keduanya terpisah dari pasukan saat menyeberang Sungai Sekayam, Kalimantan, pada 21 Maret 1966.

Seketika, tim pencarian sudah melakukan tugasnya, namun tak berhasil. Baru pada 2008, militer Australia kembali menjalankan misi pencarian dengan menggandeng Kopasus.

Titik terang muncul setelah mengumpulkan informasi dari tetua suku Dayak yang berdiam di kawasan itu. Jasad dua tentara itu ternyata telah dikebumikan di sebuah kawasan terpencil yang hanya dapat dijangkau dengan kano.

Pengiriman pasukan elit SASR kala itu dilakukan untuk menjaga stabilitas keamanan di tengah konfrontasi antara Indonesia dan Malaysia yang berlangsung selama tahun 1962-1966. Sebanyak 23 anggota militer tewas dalam tugas itu.

me think me dont care wether Australia is really Indonesia's reliable neighbour or not,, just prepare for ALL possibility (good and bad) and Indonesian shall be doing fine


also,, at least Australia is really Indonesia's reliable cheap meat supplier ,, for that, thanks Australia