Revision of Australian Immigration Laws is Welcomed
Monday, 17 April, 2006 | 16:30 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Foreign Affairs Working Group of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I welcomes the decision of the Australian government to revise its Immigration Laws.

“The Australian government's decision is an important step,” the Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Working Group of House Commission I from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, AS Hikam told Tempo by cellular phone yesterday.

According to Hikam, this step tends to become Australia's way of clearing up the impression that its government supports a separatist movement in Indonesia. In addition the decision can be considered as a solution to improve relations with Indonesia. “So what Howard did is absolutely correct,” he said.

Hikam also said that the decision could only be a short-lived solution for Indonesia. It is aimed to alleviate the Indonesian people's anger. “But their clarification gives one the impression of not being stifled,” he said.

Hikam assumed that in making the decision, Australia understands more of the anger of the Indonesian people. So it is all the result of the Indonesian people's strong pressure.

Wahyudin Fahmi