“He had to leave early to get back to a meeting in Perth," said Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, failing to the recall the meeting his counterpart had left to attend.
In his absence, an Indonesian Defence Ministry spokesperson read several remarks, ostensibly on Jackson’s behalf.
“The Australian minister emphasized the good bilateral relationship that has been in place and should not be tainted by the ethics of international relations,” said ministry spokesperson Brigaden Sisriadi.
“The defense co-operation with Indonesia is at the highest level and is based on commitment and the principles of the Lombok treaty,” he continued.
The diplomatic niceties and obfuscation echo the Australian government’s reluctance to provide clear answers about its involvement in the regional spy network. First revealed in documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden, the intelligence reveals that Australian embassies and diplomatic missions in Asia were conducting covert NSA surveillance programs. Further documents revealed that Australia was also spying on Indonesia at the UN climate change conference in Bali in 2007.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has described the activities as ‘unacceptable’ if proven and has threatened to review key areas of bilateral cooperation with Australia, such as measures to combat people smuggling.
Minister Purnomo, who days before Johnston’s visit said he would use the meeting to press for answers on the spy claims, was Friday unwilling to comment on the claims. He was also tight lipped about a standoff between Australian and Indonesian officials over a rescued asylum seeker boat at sea. The Australian Navy rescued the boat on early Friday and intended to return it to Java but Mr Purnomo says the boat is Australia’s responsibility.
“The boat was picked up by an Australian ship first, it was already rescued by an Australian vessel so I cannot speak for an Australian policy,” said Purnomo, “Of course the Australians should provide the answer.”
The Indonesian government has accepted several asylum seeker boats rescued by Australia since Tony Abbott’s election win, but Indonesia’s reluctance to cooperate this time could indicate that it is growing increasingly irate with Australia over the alleged spying. At his weekly press briefing on Friday Immigration Minister Scott Morrison denied reports of rift at sea, but refused to provide any more details.
Defending the strict control of information in his government Prime Minister Abbott said it was important not to provide "a shipping news service" for people smugglers and that "the important thing is to stop the boats".
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who is attending a two-day democracy forum in Bali alongside Dr Natalegawa – in the same building tapped by the Australian government in 2007 – has worked to down play speculation of a growing diplomatic rift. Bishop confirmed that she had discussed the spying with Dr Natalegawa but did not elaborate further. "I took aboard the concerns that have been raised,” said Bishop, “We take them all very seriously.”
