Australian leader visits Indonesia in bid to fix ties

Indonesia is failing to allow free access to all foreign journalists to Papua despite a pledge by President Joko Widodo to lift reporting restrictions in the restive eastern region, Human Rights Watch warned on Wednesday. Australian investment in Indonesia was worth an estimated $10.9 billion in the year. Australia’s contribution of AUD300 thousand to the Indonesian Red Cross will support its health initiatives in the three provinces over the next three months. Since then, the relationship has largely been based on mutual respect and understanding. Moreover, the prime minister underlined the Lombok Treaty that symbolizes and formalizes the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. That might encourage a more open policy, or do the opposite. Meanwhile, Turnbull’s stance on boat turn-backs, addressing allegations of paid people smugglers and other contentious issues may yet impact his image in the eyes of the Indonesian public. Abbott raised the ire of Indonesia’s media when he urged the Widodo government to pardon the pair to “reciprocate” for Australia’s aid to its neighbor in the wake of the 2004 tsunami.

Abbott’s comments raised nationalistic sentiment in Indonesia, which shifted the debate from the question of death penalty to the question of national sovereignty. And a majority of Australians surveyed by the Lowy Institute disagreed with the decision.

One reason for this is that mutual economic interests, or complementaries, are less with this relation than, for example, the Australia-China trade.

Former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was not happy with the spying scandal.

Despite signs of warming relations, Turnbull’s government has shown no signal of easing its tough immigration laws and the controversial policy of turning back boats from its shores remains a source of tension. Indonesians are cautious in the knowledge that Turnbull comes from the same party as Abbott. “It’s a little bit warmer than I’m used to”, Turnbull quipped during the walk, after abandoning his jacket.

Widodo had said during a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in late October that Indonesia intends to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.

“The geographic proximity of our two countries is a fact”, Widodo told the press before the meeting. Turnbull visited New Zealand last month.

Kine suggested a conspiracy was in place between the Indonesian government and security forces to keep foreign journalists out of resource-rich West Papua, where a low-level insurgency has clashed with military forces for several decades.

Second, to enhance economic co-operation between the two countries.