Margo Kingston
Latest posts by Margo Kingston (see all)
Asylum-seekers arrive at Christmas Island. Source: The Australian
What the Indonesian Ambassador said about Coalition’s turn-back-boats policy:
Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema said Indonesia would welcome Tony Abbott or whoever leads Australia after the September election.
But he said asylum seeker boats should be turned back to other countries, not to Indonesia.
“Indonesia is a transit country and also the victim of this situation. I think it’s not possible for the coalition to say that it has to go back to Indonesia because Indonesia is not the origin country of these people,” he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
“No such collaboration will happen between Indonesia and Australia (to) bring back the people to Indonesia.”
The opposition has long promised to end the flood of asylum seeker arrivals with its three-strand policy of offshore processing of asylum seekers, re-introducing temporary protection visas and turning back asylum seeker boats.
Although the coalition policy has been on the table for a number of years, Mr Kesoema said it had never been discussed with Indonesia.
“I don’t think that this issue will be aired by Mr Abbott,” he said. – AAP
Below is a collection of tweets establishing the discrepancy between what the Ambassador said was discussed in meetings between the Opposition and Indonesia and what Ms Bishop is on the record of saying. One of them is lying. They can’t both be right. Judge for yourself.
Read more:
Tony Abbott ‘a mouse in Indonesia’
Visit to Indonesia, Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard
No boat turnbacks, Indonesia says
Julie Bishop, Indonesia, boats and Guardian Australia
Julie Bishop must explain or apologise for Indonesia comments, says Labor
