An attempt by Indonesia to ease diplomatic tensions over the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran has been sharply rebuffed by one side of Australian politics.
While Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Jakarta's offer of sympathy was a sign that decent people in Indonesia appreciated the anger Australians felt at the "cruel and unnecessary" deaths of the Bali Nine ringleaders, Labor leader Bill Shorten was less forgiving.
"I think the words are cold comfort, actually, to the families. Well intentioned, no doubt, but too little, too late," he said on Friday.
In its first official response to the government's decision to recall ambassador Paul Grigson from Jakarta as a protest against the executions, Indonesia's envoy in Canberra offered an olive branch.
Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema said his country understood the views expressed by Australia and its people.
"The Indonesian people and government express our sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased," he said in a statement.
He also acknowledged the fallout from their executions represented a difficult and challenging period for Australia-Indonesia relations.
But Jakarta remained strongly committed to strengthening ties between the two countries, he said.
"We trust that currently personal, cultural, business and academic links between the peoples of Australia and Indonesia remain strong."
The statement was well received by the government with cabinet minister Christopher Pyne noting the ambassador was talking "soothingly" about the relationship.
Mr Abbott also saw the statement in a positive light.
"It's a sign that in time the good and strong friendship between Australia and Indonesia can be resumed," he said.
While Chan's brother, Michael, and mother, Helen, arrived back in Sydney on Friday from Jakarta, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said there was considerable disquiet in Indonesia about the executions.
"I was aware of a number of Indonesian politicians, business people who were deeply disturbed by the events of the past week," she told reporters in Perth.
But it was now time to move on from the issue and focus on the long-term future of the relationship.
Mr Shorten, while backing the government's retaliatory actions so far, maintained Labor's hard line on the executions.
"This wasn't justice, this was just futile," he said.
As the political parties digested Jakarta's response it has been revealed Joko Widodo's chief political rival promised to publicly support the Indonesian president if he granted clemency to Chan and Sukumaran.
Military strongman Prabowo Subianto twice privately assured Mr Joko there would be no political consequences if Chan, Sukumaran and eight others on death row were reprieved, The West Australian reported.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon said he was told earlier in the year by human rights advocates that Mr Prabowo was "very sympathetic" to clemency.
Ms Bishop said the government did not ask Mr Prabowo to intervene on its behalf while Mr Abbott was less precise.
"We made every effort through official channels, through unofficial channels, publicly and privately to appeal to the better angels of their natures," he said.
Share
