The Indonesian Solution is significantly better diplomatically, but significantly worse for refugees, writes Michael O’Keefe. Refugees won’t enter Australian waters and will be stuck at the same refugee processing point as when they left their homes.
Indonesia
The earth-asteroid collision that didn’t make headlines
On October 8, a mini-asteroid screamed into the upper atmosphere over the Indonesia and exploded with the force equivalent to two to three times that of the atom bombs that incinerated Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Grattan: Refugees hold Rudd hostage
Kevin Rudd’s ‘Indonesian Solution’ for the 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers has turned into a debacle with neither Indonesia nor Australian in charge, writes Michelle Grattan. Will they have to remove the refugees from the Oceanic Viking by force?
Grattan: The Indonesian Solution becomes the Indonesian problem
Regardless of any slick deals that Kevin Rudd and the Indonesian president have made, Indonesian officials are angry at being used as Australia’s dumping ground and Rudd can’t guarantee children won’t be behind bars, writes Michelle Grattan.
Abbott: Rudd is crueler than Howard
Tony Abbott labelled Kevin Rudd a “hypocrite” on the ABC’s Lateline last night for criticising the Howard government’s Pacific Solution policies on asylum seekers, while subjecting the latest wave of boat people to even tougher conditions in Indonesian prisons.
Letter from...: Aceh Part II: the only Jew in the village
Jakarta may now control their lives but an independent streak still runs through the veins of the Banda Aceh province, with a growing number of writers, discussions of morality and pirated DVDs.
A tour of Indonesia’s detention centres
First hand experiences of Indonesia’s detention centres, where asylum seekers are treated like animals, beating are frequent, and there’s no access to medical care, education, or adequate food.
Grattan: How to stop the Indonesian Solution boat from sinking
It’s a delicate balance of using Indonesia to stem the flow of asylum seekers and getting them angry at being put under excessive pressure, writes Michelle Grattan.
Sheridan: Tough talking Rudd is right
Greg Sheridan may have been against the Pacific Solution when it was first introduced, but, he says, “it worked”. Indonesia is central to how we discourage illegal immigrants from attempting to enter Australia.
Australia bends over for the ‘Indonesia Solution’
The motivating factor for the Indonesia Solution is not the government’s supposed humanitarian concerns, but the “dog-whistle politics” of racism in the immigration debate, writes Damien Kingsbury.
Letter from...: Aceh: the only Jew in the village
This Indonesian province takes its Islam very seriously. The provincial parliament of Aceh recently passed a criminal bylaw that supported the death penalty, stoning and flogging for homosexual acts and adultery.
Grattan: Where to now for asylum seekers?
How times have changed since John Howard and Tampa, notes Michelle Grattan. Kevin Rudd’s relationship with Indonesia is strong and the Opposition’s ‘Labor are immigration softies’ line falls flat.
People smugglers are people too
PM Kevin Rudd may be talking tough on immigration, but putting the pressure on people smugglers — sometimes ‘mum and dad’ operations — will simply strain diplomatic relations with Indonesia.
Two earthquakes in 24 hours. Coincidence?
American Samoa and Indonesia have both had earthquakes in 24 hours and both lie on the so-called Ring of Fire. But is some relationship between the two events? asks Tim Edwards.
Timor history gets a Howard washing: spin and deny
Ex PM John Howard rewrote history with the claims of his and Downer’s secret support of East Timor’s independence, says Bruce Haigh. What about public opinion and the actions of the US?
Low key in Kuta as Top topped at last
Metro TV had been running the news all day. First the raid, then the siege, then the shoot out, until finally the police were prepared to confirm the mastermind of the Bali bombings had been killed.
Grattan: Time to close the book on Balibo
Even if the AFP’s investigation into the Balibo Five is successful — and that’s a big “if” — what good will it serve either Australia or Indonesia? asks Michelle Grattan
Indonesia: Balibo probe a “waste of time”
The AFP’s recent decision to launch an investigation into the Balibo Five has angered Indonesia, with officials labeling it a “waste of time” and warning that it will harm diplomatic relations. With such resistance on the Indonesian side, will justice ever be served?
East Timor: billions given but poverty remains
Billions spent on East Timor’s U.N nation building effort may have helped preserve the peace, but most of the money went to international security forces, not to the Timorese economy or its people.
Howard hits the headlines again
Former PM John Howard is back in the media again, thanks to Paul Kelly’s new book. So what have we learnt? Crikey takes a look at the revelations from Children Overboard to Hating Peter Costello.
Downer’s historical imaginings of East Timor
The Australian’s editor-at-large Paul Kelly is claiming in his new book that the Howard government made covert plans to work for East Timor’s independence in 1999. But this ignores some key historical facts, writes Peter Brent.
Screams of panic as the earth moves in Jakarta
Journalist Ashlee Betteridge watches while Jakarta trembles with their latest earthquake, which hit 7.0 on the Richter scale.
West Papua: like a pre-independent East Timor?
Ten years after East Timor’s bloody struggle for independence, Indonesia has never prosecuted for the crimes committed during their occupation of East Timor. What’s to discourage them from similar action in West Papua? asks Marni Cordell
Banda Aceh: the new grief tourism hotspot
Five years after the tsunami devastated Banda Aceh, Indonesia, grief tourism is beginning. A new commemorative museum has opened and washed up boats are serving as tourist attractions.
