RI Ambassador Returns to Australia

After being recalled to Jakarta for about three months following an Australian government decision to grant temporary visas to 42 Papuans, Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Hamzah Thayeb was eventually back at his post in Canberra.

Hamzah Thayeb arrived back in Canberra on the weekend. He had been recalled by the Indonesian government in April 2006 in a strong protest against Australia's decision go grant temporary visas to 42 Papuans. Ambassador Thayeb's return to his Ambassadorial post in Canberra will allow final preparations to be undertaken in connection with the scheduled visit of Australian Prime Minister John Howard to Batam in Sumatra on June 26 where he will hold meetings with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The relationship warmed up further in mid May when Foreign Minister Alexander Downer met his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda in Singapore. Australians represent the second largest group of inbound travellers to Bali. However, recent events and a souring of relations between Australia and Indonesia have resulted in a downturn of nearly 40% in this market in recent months.

The eventuation of another disagreement between the two countries is inevitable judging by past history. Having said that, I will constantly be amazed at why Indonesia has to withdraw its ambassador when a wrong word is said or Australia does something that Indonesia finds distasteful and considers offensive to them.