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| Down Under |
| Howard off to Indonesia for crunch talks |
| 2006-06-24 |
| Prime Minister John Howard leaves for Indonesia on Sunday for crucial presidential talks aimed at patching up soured relations between Canberra and Jakarta. Mr Howard plans to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday to soothe recent rows over Australia's granting of protection visas to 42 Papuan asylum seekers and Indonesia's release of jailed Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir. The important visit comes after Mr Howard failed to convince his backbench to support tougher asylum-seeker laws, widely seen as an attempt to appease Indonesian anger. Relations between the two countries dipped dramatically after Australia granted asylum to the Papuan refugees, prompting Jakarta to withdraw its ambassador. Mr Howard had wanted the toughened asylum-seeker laws passed before his visit to Indonesia, but several coalition MPs have refused to support the new measures, under which all boat arrivals would be processed in offshore detention centres. Mr Howard's office was tight-lipped on Saturday after reports Indonesian officials were considering cancelling Monday's planned talks in response to the Australian government's failure to pass the immigration changes. A spokesman for Mr Howard said the meeting with President Yudhoyono on the Indonesian island of Batam had never been officially confirmed. But the visit was still going ahead as planned and Mr Howard was expected to make a statement before leaving Sydney for Indonesia on Sunday, the spokesman said. "The prime minister hopes to meet President Yudhoyono shortly," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would not comment on reports frantic diplomatic manoeuvring was underway to try to prevent the Indonesians scuttling the bilateral meeting. Central to Monday's talks will be a joint declaration endorsing Australia and Indonesia's co-operation in finalising a new security treaty. The release of Jemaah Islamiah spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir from an Indonesian prison is also likely to feature prominently in discussions. Mr Howard has said he will convey Australians' anger and frustration at Bashir's release. The hardline Muslim cleric served 25 months in jail for giving blessing to the first Bali bombings in 2002 in which 202 people, including 88 Australians, were killed. A massive police and military presence, including anti-terror squads, will guard Mr Howard's meeting with President Yudhoyono amid predictions of protests by human rights activists and extremist Muslim groups. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |