Transcript E&OE
18 July 2009
Joint Press Conference with Indonesian Foreign Minister Wirajuda, Jakarta
Subjects: Marriott/Ritz Carlton Bombings, Papua, Travel Advice for Indonesia .
HASSAN WIRAJUDA: Your Excellency Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, members of the Australian delegation, colleagues and friends of the mass media. Allow me to speak in Bahasa Indonesia for the benefit of the Indonesian media. I'll speak later in English.
(opening statement in Indonesian)
The Honourable Stephen Smith distinguished members of the Australian delegation, first and foremost I wish to welcome Minister Stephen Smith to Jakarta. A few days ago Minister Smith and I met during the Non-Aligned movement summit in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt. In fact we retuned from Cairo just yesterday. Mr Smith went to Perth and I went to Jakarta. I believe that Minister Smith has yet to fully recover from the jetlag when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd instructed him to proceed to Jakarta.
Therefore I wish to extend to you Minister the warmest welcome and sincere appreciation from the Government and people of the Republic Indonesia. Your visit is the visit of a neighbour and a close friend. A friend also in times of distress and tragedy - this time in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the J W Marriott and the Ritz Carlton Hotels in Jakarta. Our two countries through and or based on the memorandum of understanding signed on the 7th February 2002 and the Lombok Treaty signed in Lombok and ratified in Perth earlier this year, have agreed to enhance our cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including through exchanges of information including intelligence information, training and capacity building and even joint operations which have been carried out since the first Bali bombing in October 2002. In fact we both underline that the level of cooperation that we have developed in the past seven years has been excellent.
I would like also to express our deep condolences and sympathy to you and the people of Australia in particular to the families of the victims of Australians who were killed and wounded at the incidents yesterday. The position of our two governments on terrorism has been very clear. We both strongly condemn act of terrorism which in Indonesia's case and also is an assault to our democracy and freedom as well as an act of terrorism that could potentially hurt our development program and the economic progress which we have achieved in recent years.
In light of these unfortunate events I would like to take this opportunity to inform the media that during our discussions, Mr Smith and I discussed at length the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia and stress the urgency in renewing the two countries' commitment and resolve to counter terrorism in this region.
The Indonesian Government appreciates and is thankful of the offer of assistance that the Australian Government in helping to identify victims of yesterday's bombing and also for its offer to treat those wounded at the Australian hospital.
The latest terrorist attacks reminded us that we should not be complacent in our efforts in combating terrorism. Cooperation needs to be enhanced among neighbouring countries and the international community particularly because the scourge of terrorism is trans-boundary in nature and affects innocent lives, civilians irrespective of their nationalities. Terrorism poses a threat not only to a state's ability but also to the regional and international peace and security. I wish also to use this opportunity to express the appreciation of the government of Indonesia for the expressions of condolence and sympathy that we have received from many friendly governments as well as from the UN Security Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and international organisations. The expression of sympathy and support from many friendly governments is also a source of strength to us in our difficult times such as this and it would certainly strengthen our resolve in our work in combating terrorism. That is the end of my remarks and I wish now to invite my colleague, Foreign Stephen Smith.
STEPHEN SMITH: Thank you very much Minister and can I thank Minister Wirajuda for his welcome to me and the Australian delegation to Jakarta, and I thank him for receiving us at short notice in the context of terrible and tragic events.
The Australian delegation includes Australia's National Security Adviser, our Ambassador for Counter Terrorism and the Chief Executive Officer of Austrade.
The Australian Delegation comes to Jakarta at this time because Australia is a firm friend of Indonesia - not just a neighbour but a friend and at times of difficulty and times of tragedy it is important to stand side by side, to stand shoulder by shoulder.
We come here in solidarity, in sympathy and to relay in person the offer extended by the Prime Minister Rudd for any assistance that may be required so far as the Indonesian authorities is concerned in handling the investigation of this terrorist attack and in treating any of the injured.
This reflection of our friendship, of our solidarity, of standing shoulder to shoulder is precisely what Indonesia did for Australia earlier this year. On that occasion Australia faced a natural disaster with our bushfires and Indonesia offered and gave assistance and gave Australia its sympathy, its support and solidarity and stood shoulder to shoulder with us at a time of natural disaster.
Now at a time of evil man-made atrocity, Australia and Indonesia again stand shoulder to shoulder. As Foreign Minister Wirajuda has said, Australia and Indonesia have had first-class cooperation in counter terrorism matters for over half a dozen years. And we are very pleased with the cooperation, very pleased with the approach that we've taken from Presidential and Prime Ministerial to Ministerial level to agency level and the cooperation at agency level goes to police, information and intelligence sharing and effective joint operations. And we welcome that track record and we look forward to continuing it into the future.
It is also the case that Indonesia is the most successful country in the world when it comes to arresting and bringing to trial terrorists. Over the recent period - the last half dozen years we've seen hundreds of terrorists arrested, brought to trial and sentenced to imprisonment as a result of Indonesia's activities and we welcome this very much. We fight a common enemy and at times like these we should reflect upon the fact that we have a common enemy - we continually need to be vigilant and we continually need to work together to stare down this threat.
So far as Australia is concerned, we are in a position now to proceed on the basis that we have two Australians who are presumed dead: Craig Senger, an Austrade officer, and Nathan Verity, an Australian businessman.
We are proceeding on the basis that there is sufficient information to presume tragically that those two Australians are dead and our officials are rendering their families as much support as we can give and the hearts of our nation go out to those families.
We have a third Australian, Garth McEvoy, who was at the scene of the bombings, has not made contact with anyone since and we are very gravely concerned for his welfare and we fear the worst, but we do not yet have sufficient evidence to come to a conclusion. Our officials are also rendering as much support and assistance to his family members in Australia as we can.
Foreign Minister when we parted at Dubai Airport we thought we would see each other in Phuket. When I landed in Perth airport at about the same time you landed in Jakarta, we received text messages relaying to us the terrible atrocity and my heart went out to you knowing that the worst thing that can happen to a foreign minister is on arrival back home after a trip to be greeted with the death of a national or nationals and the death of foreign nationals on your soil.
And I wanted - as did the Prime Minister - very much to come as quickly as we could to stand shoulder to shoulder with you to reflect out friendship, to reflect our solidarity, to congratulate you for the good work that you've done in the past and to re-affirm our partnership as we continue to stare down our common enemy. Thank you.
QUESTION: (inaudible)?
HASSAN WIRAJUDA: (Indonesian)
STEPHEN SMITH: On the first question I said before I left for Indonesia the advice I had received from officials there was no intelligence information that Australia had which would indicate the incidents that we've seen, the attacks upon the two hotels. When I arrived in Indonesia, and in the course of yesterday, and today our officers have done an exhaustive assessment and search of intelligence and I'm in a position to confirm that that this is the case that there was no intelligence information which would draw attention to the attacks which occurred.
Normally I would not speak about intelligence matters publicly but, given what has occurred, we think it important to respond in that manner to such a question and I've done so in comparable and similar terms in Australia.
On the tragic murder of an Australian citizen in Papua, again we express our sympathy and condolences to the family members. We were very pleased that the Indonesian National Police requested that the Australian Federal Police liaise with it on the investigation. Two Australian Federal Police officers went to Papua following that invitation and there is ongoing liaison between the Indonesian National Police and the Australian Federal Police in the course of that investigation.
We welcome the fact that the Indonesian authorities have indicated that the investigation is a very high priority for them. And, like Foreign Minister Wirajuda, I think it is best and most sensible for us to await the outcome of the police investigation before any further comments or being drawn on any of the speculation that I've seen.
QUESTION: My first question is addressed to either Minister who would like to answer it. So are we safe in assuming that Australia's offer of assistance has not been accepted so far?
The second question I have is for Stephen Smith. Given the fact that Indonesian Police have now launched a major operation in Papua in response to the attacks on Freeport, are there concerns from Australia that there could be human rights abuses in response to an event that involved the killing of one of its citizens?
STEPHEN SMITH: Australia has made the offer to Indonesia of assistance. It may or may not be required - that will be entirely a matter for the Indonesian authorities and it may well be that as events unfold there is some need for assistance and the offer is and remains on the table.
Secondly so far as Freeport and Papua is concerned, I'm not proposing to be drawn on aspects of that question which would cause me to speculate on the police investigation which I've already made clear I won't do. So far as Australia's approach to Papua is concerned - in accordance with the Lombok Perth Treaty, Australia absolutely respects the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Indonesia over Papua.
Secondly we welcome very much the President's very strong commitment to enhanced and continuing autonomy, so far as Papua is concerned and we very much welcome the President's commitment to implement this program in full. And we very much welcome the very strong statements of support for the respect of human rights that we have seen from the President and from Foreign Minister Wirajuda.
HASSAN WIRAJUDA: I just wish to add that actually what should be put first by the media is the gross violations by whichever groups that resulted in the killings of a number of people including an Australian national. Their very rights to life was affected and that is the gross violations done by the groups. Other than to speculate what would be any violation of human rights in our national police operation, a conducted process of investigations of the murder that occurred in Papua. Even with regard to the most heinous crimes of terrorist attacks that occurred yesterday, President Yudhoyno underlines the importance of balancing our national security interests with continuous respect for democratic process as well as upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights. Something that we have been consistently practice in the past ten years. That's my additional response.
QUESTION: Sunanda Creagh from Reuters. Unfortunately the police are giving different figures on the death toll. What is the latest information you have on the number of people who died in yesterday's attack? And how many of those people are foreign nationals and how many are suicide bombers?
HASSAN WIRAJUDA: Four are foreign nationals. One Indonesian national and two others have not been identified. And 55 wounded, injured. 15 of them are now treated at the Jakarta Hospital and the other 23 are treated at MMC hospital. But of those treated , 9 have left hospital.
STEPHEN SMITH: So far as our advice on Australians is concerned as I said earlier two Australian nationals we presume are dead - Craig Senger and Nathan Verity. We have very grave concerns and fear the worst for Garth McEvoy. We have one Australian who we know has been injured and treated in hospital and been released. But at his request we are not proposing to identify him for privacy reasons. Our officials have attempted to do, and have done, an exhaustive search of all the records, including guests lists of hotels, a search of hospitals and we've got at this stage nothing to believe or indicate that are any further Australians who have been caught up in this atrocity.
QUESTION: Bloomberg, You mentioned that you offered assistance to Indonesia in terms of investigating the attack. Could please elaborate on what kind of assistance you have offered in the investigation and from Minister Wirajuda whether Indonesia plans to accept the offer? And on the death toll, does that include the two suicide bombers in the toll that you mentioned earlier?
HASSAN WIRAJUDA: Of those who are dead we believe three that we haven't yet identified includes the suicide bombers. On the offer of the Australian Government we will communicate with the relevant agencies particularly with the National Police as well as the Departments of Health on whether or not there is a need to in particular treat those wounded in Australia. And of course we will communicate later with the Australian government in this regard.
STEPHEN SMITH: As Foreign Minister Wirajuda has said, we've made an offer of assistance. It may or may not be required to be taken up but because of the very good close cooperative working relationship between Indonesian Police and the Australian Federal Police we have indicated that, if required, if necessary, if Indonesia wants it then we can provide assistance of the investigation in so far as forensic matters are concerned. Also victim identification but also because Australia has a lot of experience and world class expertise in burns victims. If there are any victims who might require that special treatment then that is available as well.
Could I just take the opportunity of just saying and mentioning in public a point I made to Foreign Minister Wirajuda. Whilst of course we are here dealing in response to this terrible atrocity, we come to Indonesia in the aftermath of a successful Indonesian election.
I wanted to put on the public record at the first opportunity I had in Indonesia what I said to Foreign Minister Wirajuda both in Sharm-El-Sheikh at the Non-aligned Moment meeting and at our bilateral meeting.
We welcome very much that the world's third largest democracy has successfully conducted an election and whilst formalities need to be attended to, we of course look forward to working closely with the Indonesian government and, in the context of a terrible terrorist atrocity, we welcome very much President Yudhoyono's comments yesterday that no effort will be spared in bringing the perpetrators to justice, consistent with the rule of law and consistent with Indonesia's adherence to human rights. And so we congratulate Indonesia on the conducting of a successful election - the world's third largest democracy.
QUESTION: Minister Wirajuda, Daniel Sutton from Chanel 10: can I ask you in the wake of yesterday's attack, Australia altered its travel advice for Australians headed to Indonesia to delay non-essential travel if possible. What is your advice who might be too scared to come to Indonesia or Jakarta in particular following yesterday's bombing?
HASSAN WIRAJUDA: Lets remind our friends in Australia that Indonesia is a very large country. As proven in the past, it may an incident in Jakarta but it does not immediately affect the situation in other parts of Indonesia and many outer islands of Indonesia. And so in the wake of yesterday's terrorist attacks, our police has taken measures to strengthen the security, in not only Jakarta but also in many places outside Jakarta, in many tourist destination to ensure that the foreign tourist continue to enjoy their vacation in Indonesia, to ensure their security is well protected. In other words we welcome, we are grateful for many foreign tourists to continue to come and enjoy their vacation in Indonesia. We'll do our best. Yes there is an incident in Jakarta. It doesn't mean that the security situation on other islands, other parts of Indonesia, are automatically affected.
STEPHEN SMITH: The premise of your question is wrong. Australia did not change the level of its travel advice so far as Indonesia is concerned yesterday. Our travel advice for Indonesia has been at the same level for half a dozen years. All that occurred yesterday was a change in the commentary which recorded factually the fact that these terrible terrorist atrocities had concern. So the premise of your question - i.e. a change in the level - is factually incorrect.
Can I just also indicate that my officials have advised me that so far as assistance is concerned, Indonesian police have recently asked Australia for and we are proposing to provide some very specialist assistance which goes to the enhancement of CCTV images and some other specialist facilities or specialist expertise which goes to identification. So those specialist techniques are being made available to the police. I am happy to stand corrected on the record, but I think that agreement of assistance was affected in the course of today.
[End]
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