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| Down Under |
| Australia Bracing For Backlash |
| 2005-06-02 |
| AUSTRALIA is bracing for a backlash as Prime Minister John Howard warned the nation's reputation had been damaged by the terror threat targeting the Indonesian embassy in Canberra. A water cannon has been set up outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta and security is being reviewed amid fears extremists will seek revenge. Indonesian authorities have also promised to boost security for Schapelle Corby at her Bali jail after the terror threat was linked to community outrage over the 20-year jail term she received for drug smuggling. Mr Howard said the letter, which was written in Indonesian, appeared to be linked to Corby's 20-year jail sentence for drug smuggling. "It's hard to escape the belief that there was a connection, let's put it that way," Mr Howard said. He said there was a chance that terrorists could hit Australian interests in revenge for the intimidatory action. The fallout from the incident is already being felt. Indonesian legislator Joko Susilo, who sits on Indonesia's House Foreign Affairs Committee, today urged his Government to issue travel warnings advising Indonesians not to travel to Australia. Vice-President Jusuf Kalla rejected the call, despite Mr Susilo warning the incident proved Australians were capable of committing their own acts of terrorism. Three Indonesian National Police officers and an Indonesian agriculture ministry official have joined the hunt for the hoaxer, who could face up to 10 years in jail for the crime. "The sending of that particular letter was designed to cause major disruption and instil fear," ACT chief police officer John Davies told reporters. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd meanwhile visited Indonesian ambassador Imron Cotan today and said the relationship between the two countries was strong enough to survive the fallout from the incident. But he said some people would always be critical of Australia. |
| Posted by:Spavirt Pheng6042 |
| #2 LOL! As an aspiring old neighborhood grouch, all I can say is me too.... |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-02 18:52 |
| #1 I wish I had a water cannon. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-06-02 18:16 |