Indonesia wants assurance from Army chief

Indonesia is seeking assurances from Australia that offensive training material used at a Perth barracks was a one-off case.

Indonesia will be seeking assurances from Australia that training material which offended a trainer at a Perth barracks was a one-off case and not systemic.

Army Chief Angus Campbell will meet with his Indonesian counterpart General Gatot Nurmantyo next Wednesday in Jakarta.

The Indonesian military last month froze all defence co-operation with Australia before swiftly backing down and clarifying the suspension only applied to language programs at special forces academies.

The suspension was triggered following an incident last November involving teaching materials causing offence to a special forces trainer at the Campbell Barracks in Perth.

The material poked fun at Indonesia's founding philosphy - Pancasila.

Pancasila stipulates Indonesia's five principles of religion, civilised humanity, unity, democracy and social justice.

There were also concerns regarding the use of a Wikipedia article about former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's father-in-law and his controversial military service in West Papua.

Lieutenant General Campbell will discuss the findings of the Australian defence department's investigation into the incident.

AAP understands Indonesia is keen for an assurance that the problem is "not systemic" but an individual case and the person involved has been appropriately counselled.

Indonesia is reportedly satisfied by various written apologies from the Defence Force and Defence Minister Marise Payne.

The long running language course could be back up and running in the short term.

Indonesia's Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu is due to visit Australia for talks with Senator Payne later in February.


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Source: AAP


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