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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