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Indonesia: Balibo matter 'long finished'

The deaths of the Balibo Five were accidental and the matter is closed, says Indonesia on the 40th anniversary.

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Source: AAP


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The deaths of five journalists working for Australian media in Balibo, East Timor, 40 years ago were an accident and the matter is long finished, Indonesia's foreign ministry says.

Spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir says the Australian Federal Police last year concluded an investigation into war crimes couldn't continue.

"They considered there was not enough evidence for further process on that case," he told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday.

"Indonesia too has considered that this problem has been long finished because it's not something that can be considered as a violation of the law.

"It was accidental and it's already finished.

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"The relationship between Indonesia and Australia is much bigger than one issue, than one problem."

Asked if Indonesia co-operated fully with the AFP inquiries, Mr Nasir said: "That process has been done by the AFP and that was the AFP's own conclusion.

"And so for us, we consider this has been finished."


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