Wednesday, January 4, 2017

The Australian Defense Ministry stated that the investigation into an alleged insult to the Indonesian Military, or TNI, and the country’s founding ideology, Pancasila, is being finalized after the suspension of military cooperation between the two countries.


The Australian Defense Ministry stated that the investigation into an alleged insult to the Indonesian Military, or TNI, and the country’s founding ideology, Pancasila, is being finalized after the suspension of military cooperation between the two countries.

Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne confirmed the concerns of an Indonesian soldier about teaching materials and verbal remarks at an army language training facility in Australia last year.

She said Australian Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin has contacted his Indonesian counterpart Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, assuring the matter will be resolved.

“The Australian Army has looked into the serious concerns that were raised and the investigation into the incident is being finalized,” Payne said in a statement on Wednesday.

She added that Australia is committed to building a strong defense relationship with Indonesia, including through cooperation in training and it will work to restore full cooperation as soon as possible.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Wuryanto confirmed the temporary suspension of military cooperation between Indonesia and Australia due to “technical matters” without elaborating further.

The decision was made after members of the special forces unit Kopassus reported teaching materials insulting the TNI were on display, as well as material which allegedly demeaned Pancasila.

Australia and Indonesia has had patchy relations following a diplomatic falling out in April 2015 when the Indonesian government executed two Australian nationals for drug offenses.

This is the first military suspension since 2013, when Australia was found to have spied on the phone calls of then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife.

 

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